title: Seasonal patterns of hospital use in Winnipeg: implications for managing winter bed crises.
abstract: This study examined whether Winnipeg hospitals experience predictable "high-volume periods" in order to determine whether hospital overcrowding might be anticipated and, therefore, avoided. We found that high-volume periods among medical patients occurred during all but one year between 1987 and 1998. Most high-volume periods occurred during influenza seasons. Preventing such recurrent bed pressures requires a multi-faceted approach, involving preventive efforts to reduce hospital admissions (influenza vaccination) and alternatives to managing the hospital system.
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.
authors.forename: Verena H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Menec
authors.forename: Noralou P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacWilliam
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends*; D012621:Seasons; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*