Calculating Daily Patient Day Hours in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Formula:

Daily Patient Day Hours = Total Hours of Care Provided ÷ Total Patient Days

Step-by-Step Calculation

1. Total Patient Days: Number of patients × Number of days in the period (e.g., month).
   Example: 100 patients × 20 days = 2,000 patient days.
2. Total Care Hours: Sum of all hours worked by nursing staff (RNs, LPNs, CNAs), therapists, aides, etc., during that period.
   Example: 5,000 hours of care provided.
3. Calculate: 5,000 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 hours per patient day.

This metric helps facilities assess staffing levels, budgeting, and care intensity.