What rate is used to compare the number of inpatient deaths to the total number of inpatient deaths and discharges?

The gross death rate is the most appropriate choice for comparing the number of inpatient deaths to the total number of inpatient deaths and discharges. This rate provides a straightforward calculation that reflects the proportion of patients who died while admitted to a hospital, without adjustments for patient characteristics or other factors. It is calculated by taking the total number of deaths and dividing it by the total number of discharges and deaths, and then multiplying by a factor (often 100 or 1,000) to express it as a rate. This simplicity makes it a useful measure for quickly assessing mortality within a given time period in a specific inpatient setting.

In contrast, other rates mentioned have different focuses. The net hospital death rate typically accounts for deaths that occur in a facility while excluding certain categories such as deaths that happen after discharge. The material hospital death rate, while not a standard term in most health statistics discussions, may imply a rate that connotes significance or relevance but does not directly translate to the basic calculation of comparing deaths to total admissions. The adjusted hospital death rate takes into consideration various patient factors and conditions to provide a more refined measure of mortality, making it less direct for simple comparisons. Therefore, the gross death rate serves exactly the purpose needed for this particular inquiry.