12-09-2020, 05:51 PM
There are probably four different numbers that can be used:
1) Staffed beds (how many beds have a nurse assigned or could be assigned); this is the most variable, because hospitals will call in nurses on a shift-by-shift basis to match occupancy
2) Staffable beds (how many beds have a nurse or have a nurse who is on call to cover); this would be less variable, because staffing assignments, including on call assignments, are set weekly to monthly.
3) Licensed beds (how many beds the hospital is licensed to staff, which is probably the most stable number). Beds are licensed by the state, but hospitals might be well below the licensed bed capacity by closing wings or by only having staffing available to cover a subset of the licensed beds.
4) Total possible capacity (which would be licensed beds plus surge beds). Desperate times call for desperate measures; and this is where we are putting patients into the PACU, setting up beds wherever they can be set up, and even setting up outdoor tents.
BC
1) Staffed beds (how many beds have a nurse assigned or could be assigned); this is the most variable, because hospitals will call in nurses on a shift-by-shift basis to match occupancy
2) Staffable beds (how many beds have a nurse or have a nurse who is on call to cover); this would be less variable, because staffing assignments, including on call assignments, are set weekly to monthly.
3) Licensed beds (how many beds the hospital is licensed to staff, which is probably the most stable number). Beds are licensed by the state, but hospitals might be well below the licensed bed capacity by closing wings or by only having staffing available to cover a subset of the licensed beds.
4) Total possible capacity (which would be licensed beds plus surge beds). Desperate times call for desperate measures; and this is where we are putting patients into the PACU, setting up beds wherever they can be set up, and even setting up outdoor tents.
BC