title: 'Onslaught of patients'. Flu outbreak strains hospitals, but could be good news for bottom lines.
abstract: The flu season has barely begun, and already hospitals are feeling a strain on their capacity. Last week, the CDC declared the outbreak to be an epidemic by one measure. "We're seeing an onslaught of patients, to be honest. We're seeing much higher volume than in previous years," said Dr. Robert Kelly, president of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. At least one analyst said the strong flu season could be a positive for cash flow, though it may not necessarily mean higher margins for hospitals.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Barr
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Kutscher
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology