title: Myths of ideal hospital occupancy.
abstract: Significant problems in health care, such as access block and long waiting lists for elective surgery, have led to calls for keeping hospital occupancy at no more than 85%. It is elementary queueing theory that a finite-capacity system with variable demand cannot sustain both full utilisation and full availability. However, the statement that there is a single level of ideal or safe occupancy suitable for all situations is a simplistic interpretation and application of the underlying science. We argue that specific study and action are necessary to understand and deal with the problems of long waiting lists and access block in any given health care facility.
authors.affiliation: health-mic Special Interest Group, Health Informatics Society of Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. bainchri@optusnet.com.au
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D014739:Victoria; D014850:Waiting Lists