One thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
There are 3 numbers as far as bed size goes to tell you your capacity.
1) "Normal" operational load/bed size; this is probably the number of available/staffed ER beds you use day in day out... You should have enough ER department staff on duty to staff these beds.
2) The next level is sometimes called "overflow" capacity. Here you are using your hall beds other areas in/around the ER possibly. This number still must reflect your ability to staff these beds. In other words, it does no good to say you have "X" capacity but you don't have departmental FTE's to staff them
3) This level is your "surge" or "emergency" capacity for short term only until you move pt's out or release to a minor care/holding are (like during a MCI or disaster)....these beds are ALL possible treatment spaces, including blankets or mattresses on floors and isn't limited by staffing or resources. These beds would have on call people or people from other departments to care for them, not just ER staff.
4) Finally, you may be limited by the number of "functional" beds you have by State/Federal reporting guidelines, kind of like how many beds you are licensed for legally.
To give you my example where I work we have
1) "Normal" operating beds: 80
2) "Overflow" beds: 114
3) "Surge"/Disaster: (I'm guessing) probably about 130-140
Hope this helps.
-MB
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eps
it listed the amount of beds for the entire hosp. and how many were peds/psych etc, oh well i'll keep trying.. i'm on a mission lol
