According to a recent analysis of Medicare data from between 2008 and 2011

researchers found that one extra day in the hospital:

• Reduced mortality risk for patients treated for pneumonia by 22%
• Reduced mortality risk for heart attack patients by 7%
• Reduced readmissions for severe heart failure patients by 7%
• Saved five-to-six times more lives compared with outpatient care

Source: "ONE EXTRA DAY IN THE HOSPITAL CUTS READMISSION RATES AND REDUCES PATIENT DEATHS," Columbia Business School Press Release, October 28, 2014, http://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/newsroom/newsn/3251/one-extra-day-in-the-hospital-cuts-readmission-rates-and-reduces-patient-deaths