[Barber-Johnson analysis of bed utilization in hospital-based health care in the Croatian Republic during peace and war:1986-1991].

Intensity of bed utilization in Croatia's hospitals in the peace-time period 1986-90 and the war year of 1991 was evaluated. The study covered 32 general-and-teaching hospitals disposing with 21,300 beds in 1986-90 and 27 of these hospitals with 19.000 beds in 1991. Basic information derives from hospital's statistical reports analyses by the Barber-Johnson's technique. While length of stay was reduced in the 1986-90 period, average number of discharges and deaths per available beds increased (1986/26.1; 1990/26.9). In the peace year of 1990 the performances of 11 of the 32 hospitals grouped in a zone limited to 10.0-12.9 days for the length of stays and 1.1-2.5 days for turnover interval. In the war year of 1991 the performances of 10 of the 27 hospitals were grouped in a zone defined by 8.5-10.9 days for length of stay and by 3.1 and 6.2 days for turnover interval. The Barber-Johnson's analysis provides key information in the decision making about hospital beds utilization, as well as in the evaluation of such decisions.