title: FluSurge--a tool to estimate demand for hospital services during the next pandemic influenza.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of pandemic influenza on hospital services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on census data and estimates of hospital resources (non-ICU [intensive care unit] beds, ICU beds, and mechanical ventilators) in a given area, FluSurge software estimates the number of hospital admissions and deaths due to pandemic influenza under variable duration and virulence scenarios and compares hospital resources needed during a pandemic with existing hospital resources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sample results from Metropolitan Atlanta illustrate how the next influenza pandemic may overwhelm existing hospital resources, given that hospitals increasingly operate at nearly full capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitals need to consider and plan for a surge in demand for hospital services during the next influenza pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Office of Surveillance, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. XZhang4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Xinzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Pascale M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wortley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013022:South Carolina; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000600:supply & distribution