For decades, hospitals have tried to reduce the average length of patient stay, concluding the longer a patient occupied one of their beds, the higher costs for treating them rose. However, a new study by Columbia University's business school has found that patients who stay in the hospital longer--by one day--have lower costs and better outcomes. Mortality rates dropped for patients being treated for pneumonia and heart attacks, and their readmission rates also declined, meaning hospitals could potentially avoid financial hits from the Medicare program for avoidable readmissions. >> Read the full article at FierceHealthcare