International psychogeriatrics
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ABSTRACT Background: Geriatric psychiatry hospital beds are a limited resource. Our aim was to determine predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS) for geriatric patients with dementia admitted to inpatient psychiatric beds. Methods: Admission and discharge data from a large urban mental health center, from 2005 to 2010 inclusive, were retrospectively analyzed. ⋯ Conversely, pain on admission predicted shorter hospital LOS. Conclusions: Specific clinical characteristics generally determined at the time of admission are predictive of hospital LOS in geriatric psychiatry inpatients. Addressing these factors early on during admission and in the community may result in shorter hospital LOS and more optimal use of resources.