Final answer:
The claim that the average daily census is defined as the number of inpatients present at midnight is false. It is actually calculated by dividing the total number of inpatient days over a given period by the number of days in that period, providing a measure of inpatient bed utilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the average daily census is defined as the number of inpatients present at midnight is false. The average daily census is a measure used by hospitals to understand the utilization of inpatient services, but it is not only based on the number of inpatients at midnight.
It is a calculation of the total number of inpatient days for a given period divided by the number of days in that period. For example, if a hospital has a total of 300 inpatient days in a month, and there are 30 days in that month, the average daily census would be 10 inpatients per day.
This measure helps hospital management in resource planning and can give an indication of how often beds are occupied. It's important to note that censuses may be taken at different times of day, depending on the hospital's policy. Moreover, the average does not specifically relate to patients being present at midnight but rather considers the daily inpatient presence over a period of time to provide a more accurate reflection of inpatient utilization.