The Impact of Hospital Bed Occupancy on Patient Flow and Emergency Department Access: A 25-Hospital Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of hospital occupancy levels on inpatient and emergency department (ED) flow rates, ED length of stay (ED) and access block, and identify critical occupancy thresholds above which patient flow deteriorates.

Design

Retrospective cohort study using routinely collected administrative data.

Setting

Twenty-five public hospitals in Queensland, Australia, over a 5.5-year period (1 April 2017 to 31 August 2022).

Main outcome measures

ED presentation and discharge rates, inpatient admission and discharge rates, hospital occupancy levels, length of stay, access block and 4-h rule compliance.

Results

The analysis reveals a significant performance shift as hospital occupancy levels increase and identifies site-specific critical 'cho

SUBMITTER: Riahi V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12946772 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature