There are currently approximately 286 licenced day hospital centres in Australia performing around 60% of all acute surgical procedures.The types of Day Hospitals include:
- free-standing facility that is purpose built
- facility that is integrated with the existing surgical facilities at a hospital
- facility that is integrated with the existing hospital with shared surgical facilities but with separate admission and ward facilities;
- purpose-built facility within an existing hospital;
- treatment of day hospital patients as inpatients in a hospital that has no specific day hospital program.
The types of procedures being performed in day hospitals include:
| Endoscopy | Ear, nose and throat |
| Ophthalmology | Dermatology |
| Plastics | General surgery |
| Cosmetic Surgery | Gynaecology |
| Cardiac | In vitro fertilisation |
| Orthopaedic | Haematology/Oncology |
| Oral/dental/maxillofacial | Urology |
| Paediatric surgery | Laparoscopic surgery |
Patient selection is based on:
- general health
- age
- obesity
- social circumstances
- post-discharge carer support
- transport and distance from the clinic
- patient willingness.
Day Hospitals were first introduced into Australian in 1982, now around 60% of all surgery is undertaken in day hospitals. In some specialties this is nearly 90%. Specialization has led to:
- better outcomes
- reduced LOS
- reduced costs
- higher quality of care
- increased patient satisfaction