Assessing Immediate Bed Availability and Barriers to Discharge in a United States Children's Hospital

M. Catherine Burgess, Debbie Delorenzo, Carl Eriksson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify immediate bed availability (IBA) in a United States children's hospital and treatment needs of hospitalized patients whose needs could be met outside a traditional hospital setting. Methods: Using a novel tool to capture census, scheduled discharges, and resource needs for hospitalized patients, we surveyed our hospital's 5 non-neonatal inpatient pediatric units on 4 d over 1 y. Results: Median ward occupancy was 81% (range, 58-79), median intensive care unit occupancy was 80% (range, 7-19), and median IBA was 42% (range, 34-59). A median of 14 patients per day (13% of total capacity) had treatment needs that could be met by providing limited support in a nontraditional setting; the most common reason for requiring ongoing hospitalization in this group of patients was a safe discharge plan. Conclusions: Our median IBA of 42% exceeds federal recommendations, but varies widely between days surveyed. Even on days when IBA percentage is high, our total number of available beds is unlikely to meet pediatric population needs in a large-scale public health emergency.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)563-567
Number of pages5
JournalDisaster medicine and public health preparedness
Volume15
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 3 2021

Keywords

  • disaster medicine
  • emergency preparedness
  • hospital bed capacity
  • surge capacity
  • vulnerable populations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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