Trends in ED and Inpatient Services

In March, an interesting article was published examining the trends in the supply of beds in California’s emergency departments in relation to those in inpatient services. This retrospective analysis reviews the supply and demand of beds from 2005 – 2014. It addresses several factors contributing to the ebb and flow of bed availability across the state and presents a new methodology for analyzing trends. The new metric – ‘beds per visit’ –  suggests the State of California has an inadequate supply of ED and specific inpatient beds.

While this study looks only at the State of California, the issue of ED overcrowding continues to plague hospitals across the United States. We are interested in better understanding this phenomenon and how the hospitals in which we work strive to manage this symbiotic relationship between emergency departments and inpatient services.