Table 3.

Algorithm’s input - factors influencing patients’ length-of-stay

Factor	Source		Potential reduction (minutes)	Steps required to address the factor	Responsible	Cost
1	Escorts per patient	Ep	55	Adding a security guard	Management	100
2	Heart Rate (BPM)a	HR	30	Calm anxious patients	Physicians / nurses	20
3	Escorts in acute section	Ea	6	Only 1 escort per patient	Nurses	30
4	Patients in ambulatory section	Pa	5	Increase treatment speed	Management	500
5	Hour of arrival	Ha	6	Impossible to control	Management	Infinity
6	Tests needed	Tni	80	Avoid unnecessary tests	Nurses	30

^aNote: We assume that the average patient’s heart rate can be reduced by 10 BPM