Addressing inpatient crowding by smoothing occupancy at children's hospitals (24 May 2011)

Summary

The aim of this study was to quantify the difference in weekday versus weekend occupancy, and the opportunity to smooth inpatient occupancy to reduce crowding at children's hospitals.

They study found that hospitals do have substantial unused capacity, and smoothing occupancy over the course of a week could be a useful strategy that hospitals can use to reduce crowding and protect patients from crowded conditions.