Hospital Occupancy Rate
A higher occupancy rate indicates a higher utilization of acute care hospital beds.
This measure is one component of a hospital’s profile. While there is no clear benchmark, the occupancy rate should be in a range that minimizes unused capacity while still providing flexibility for a hospital to respond to unpredictable health care needs of the patients it serves.
Total number of inpatient days divided by the number of calendar days in the year, divided by the number of acute care beds, and multiplied by 100.
Bed Days Staffed and In Operation (MIS secondary statistical account 8 27*).
If 8 27* is not available, Beds Staffed and In Operation (MIS secondary statistical account 8 25*) is used. Bed Days Staffed and In Operation is defined as follows: the beds available and staffed to provide services to inpatients at the required type and level of service at the beginning of the fiscal year.
When either the number of bed days staffed and in operation or the number of beds staffed and in operation was not reported, occupancy rate was not calculated.
Inpatient Days (MIS secondary statistical account 4 03 1*).
This is defined as follows: The days during which services are provided to an inpatient, between the census-taking hours on successive days. The day of admission is counted as an inpatient day but the day of separation is not an inpatient day. When the service recipient is admitted and separated (discharged or died) on the same day, 1 inpatient day is counted. The total number of inpatient days per year is then divided by 365 days/year to produce an average number of inpatients per day.
Methodology
Name
Hospital Occupancy Rate
Short/Other Names
Occupancy Rate
Description
The average number of beds occupied by inpatients as a percentage of all acute care beds staffed and in operation.
Rationale
The occupancy rate shows the percentage of a hospital’s acute care beds that are in use, on average, in a given year.
Interpretation
A higher occupancy rate indicates a higher utilization of acute care hospital beds.
This measure is one component of a hospital’s profile. While there is no clear benchmark, the occupancy rate should be in a range that minimizes unused capacity while still providing flexibility for a hospital to respond to unpredictable health care needs of the patients it serves.
HSP Framework Dimension
Health system inputs and characteristics: Health system resources
Areas of Need
Not applicable
Targets/Benchmarks
Not applicable
Available Data Years
to
Geographic Coverage
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
Reporting Level/Disaggregation
- Facility
Update Frequency
Every year
Latest Results Update Date
Description
Total number of inpatient days divided by the number of calendar days in the year, divided by the number of acute care beds, and multiplied by 100.
Type of Measurement
Percentage or proportion - Rate
Denominator
Description:
Bed Days Staffed and In Operation (MIS secondary statistical account 8 27*).
If 8 27* is not available, Beds Staffed and In Operation (MIS secondary statistical account 8 25*) is used. Bed Days Staffed and In Operation is defined as follows: the beds available and staffed to provide services to inpatients at the required type and level of service at the beginning of the fiscal year.
When either the number of bed days staffed and in operation or the number of beds staffed and in operation was not reported, occupancy rate was not calculated.
Inclusions:
The following MIS primary accounts are included:
- 71 2 05* — Nursing Inpatient Administration
- 71 2 07 — Nursing Inpatient Medical Resources
- 71 2 10* — Medical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 20* — Surgical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 30 — Combined Medical/Surgical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 40* — Intensive Care Nursing Unit (excluding 71 2 40 50)
- 71 2 50* — Obstetrics Nursing Unit
- 71 2 60* — Operating Room
- 71 2 62 — Combined Operating Room and Post-Anesthetic Recovery Room
- 71 2 65* — Post-Anesthetic Recovery Room
- 71 2 70* — Pediatric Nursing Unit
- 71 2 90* — Palliative Nursing Unit
- 71 2 96 — Contracted-Out Surgical Services
Exclusions:
The following MIS primary accounts are excluded:
- 71 2 40 50 — Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 75* — Mental Health and Addiction Services Nursing Unit
- 71 2 76 — Mental Health Long-Term Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 80* — Physical Rehabilitation Nursing Unit
- 71 2 92* — Long-Term Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 97 — Contracted-Out Inpatient Long-Term Care
Numerator
Description:
Inpatient Days (MIS secondary statistical account 4 03 1*).
This is defined as follows: The days during which services are provided to an inpatient, between the census-taking hours on successive days. The day of admission is counted as an inpatient day but the day of separation is not an inpatient day. When the service recipient is admitted and separated (discharged or died) on the same day, 1 inpatient day is counted. The total number of inpatient days per year is then divided by 365 days/year to produce an average number of inpatients per day.
Inclusions:
Inpatient days in the following MIS primary accounts are included:
- 71 2 05* — Nursing Inpatient Administration
- 71 2 07 — Nursing Inpatient Medical Resources
- 71 2 10* — Medical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 20* — Surgical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 30 — Combined Medical/Surgical Nursing Unit
- 71 2 40* — Intensive Care Nursing Unit (excluding 71 2 40 50)
- 71 2 50* — Obstetrics Nursing Unit
- 71 2 60* — Operating Room
- 71 2 62 — Combined Operating Room and Post-Anesthetic Recovery Room
- 71 2 65* — Post-Anesthetic Recovery Room
- 71 2 70* — Pediatric Nursing Unit
- 71 2 90* — Palliative Nursing Unit
- 71 2 96 — Contracted-Out Surgical Services
Exclusions:
Inpatient days in the following MIS primary accounts are excluded:
- 71 2 40 50 — Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 75* — Mental Health and Addiction Services Nursing Unit
- 71 2 76 — Mental Health Long-Term Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 80* — Physical Rehabilitation Nursing Unit
- 71 2 92* — Long-Term Care Nursing Unit
- 71 2 97 — Contracted-Out Inpatient Long-Term Care
Method of Adjustment
Statistical outliers were identified and removed according to an interquartile rule (IQR). The range of acceptable values is defined as follows:
1st quartile (25th percentile) − 1.5 × IQR to 3rd quartile (75th percentile) + 1.5 × IQR
Occupancy rates greater than 100% were suppressed.
Geographic Assignment
Not applicable
Data Sources
- CMDB
Caveats and Limitations
Statistical outliers and occupancy rates greater than 100% were suppressed. Occupancy rates lower than the acceptable range value for the interquartile rule were suppressed.
When either the number of bed days staffed and in operation or the number of beds staffed and in operation was not reported, occupancy rate was not calculated.
Inpatient days and/or beds reported in non-acute functional centres are not captured with this methodology.
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Hospital Occupancy Rate. Accessed April 25, 2025.
If you would like CIHI information in a different format, visit our Accessibility page.
Comments
Not applicable