The cost data are extracted from a validated dataset for cost calculation at the University
Hospital in Heidelberg generated for annual economic purposes. The information on daily
inpatients costs were obtained by a member of the medical accounting and controlling department
who was not directly involved in the study and therefore blind to the hypotheses. Extraction
of datasets was performed with modifications of standard reporting scripts of the
accounting department. This study used anonymous administrative data without identifiable
private information and no human intervention was involved. The study was in accordance
with internal ethic guidelines for the use of patients’ data as implemented by the Medical Faculty,
University of Heidelberg, Germany