January, 2008 – In 2006–2007, there were approximately 2.8 million admissions to Canadian acute care hospitals, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). While this represents a 2.3% decrease from the year before, it is a 15% decrease since 1995–1996. Inpatient hospitalizations continued to decrease after adjustment was made for sex, aging and population growth. Compared to 11 out of 100 Canadians in 1995–1996, 8 in 100 Canadians were hospitalized in 2006–2007, representing a 28% decrease. This year, the average length of stay in hospitals was 7.3 days. That figure has remained relatively stable over the last 12 years, during which time the average was 7.2 days.
The data also show that for all the emergency departments participating in the study from Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, children under five years accounted for the highest proportion of emergency department visits, with over 484,000 visits.
About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information. CIHI’s goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable information. CIHI’s data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to good health. www.cihi.ca.
Information on: Highlights of 2006–2007 Inpatient Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits.
