Term: Overall Acuity During Peak Flu Period

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2007-09-26

Definition:

Analyses at MCHP have demonstrated seasonal patterns in the numbers of patients in hospital at Winnipeg acute care hospitals. Examining the patterns found that high-pressure periods leading to bed shortages consistently occurred during the winter months, these high-pressure periods were driven by emergent/urgent medical patients and coincided with increases in influenza-like illnesses. This peak in influenza-like illnesses contributed to an overall increase in the number of emergent/urgent medical in-patients.

Related terms 

• Acuity
• High-pressure Period
• Influenza-Like Illness
• Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP)

References 

• Bruce S, De Coster C, Trumble-Waddell J, Burchill C, De Haney S. Acuity of Patients Hospitalized for Medical Conditions at Winnipeg Acute Care Hospitals. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, 2001. [Report] [Summary] (View)