BENCHMARKING: Housekeeping cost per square foot

The relationship between patient satisfaction with care received in the hospital, as measured by the Medicare star ratings, and housekeeping cost was studied based on data from nearly 3,500 hospitals.  The authors of this very brief report note that the findings are intuitive – spend more money on housekeeping and patients will be more satisfied –  except for the oddly low cost per square foot for the 5-star rated hospitals.  Here are some of the reported findings:

Housekeeping Cost per Patient Day: 5-star is the best rating

• $174.98 for 5-star rated hospitals
• $103.82 for 4-star rated hospitals
• $  85.16 for 3-star rated hospitals
• $  75.98 for 2-star rated hospitals
• $  75.93 for 1-star rated hospitals

Housekeeping Cost per Square Foot: 5-star is the best rating

• $2.80 for 5-star rated hospitals
• $6.73 for 4-star rated hospitals
• $4.96 for 3-star rated hospitals
• $3.83 for 2-star rated hospitals
• $4.34 for 1-star rated hospitals

Source: The importance of a clean hospital room, according to patients. (2017, April). Healthcare Financial Management, 71(4), 78-79.  Click here for publisher’s website: https://www.hfma.org/Content.aspx?id=53567    Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org