Census in Hospitals/Nursing Homes

[seeking33]

I heard that the censuses for hospitals and nursing homes are going down. Is this true? Are people not getting sick anymore?

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

LOL, people are still getting sick, never worry about that. Our jobs are safe. That said, I have noticed a trend in patient levels over the years. In the summer months the amount of pt's tends to drop, in the winter months it rises. It all balences out in the end.

[RNperdiem, RN]

The human mortality rate remains stable at 100%. Most people die in hospital. I live in a growing area, there is not a low census here.

[jmgrn65, RN]

No low census here, except the normal fluctuations. Summer tends to be lower. But ECF remain full and hard to get patients into.

[MissChatLPN]

I've noticed that in the area where i live the nursing home census is going down. Greatly in part of the Home Health services provided by different agencies. A nurse can come by and visit with a patient once a week and let the doctors know what's going on with that patient, and then they have CNAs that come out everyday and help with ADLs and run errands therefore making it easily for the elderly to stay home and not be admitted into a nursing home facility.

[mer_RN]

our census in OB has been way down for about 4 months now. management tells us this is the case all over the country and no one has an explanation. summer has always been busy for us.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I heard that the censuses for hospitals and nursing homes are going down. Is this true? Are people not getting sick anymore?

There will always be sick people who are in need of healthcare. However, many more options exist other than hospitals and nursing homes, so this may be a valid explanation for low census at times.

Gone are the days when you absolutely had to have a simple surgical procedure at a major hospital, because it often can be done competently at outpatient ambulatory surgical centers on a same-day basis. If a patient has an emergent condition that is not life-threatening, it often can be treated faster, cheaper, and more efficiently at an urgent care clinic (instead of the hospital emergency department). Sick elderly people have options other than nursing homes, such as private duty care, home health, and assisted living. Pregnant women can avoid acute care hospitals by giving birth at outpatient birthing centers that are operated by certified nurse midwives.

Patients have more options for care, other than hospitals and nursing homes. These options tend to be cost-effective and competent alternatives.

[VenaKavaRN]

This article was posted a couple months ago, but can't see what's changed since then:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19511691/

Whoever said less people were coming to hospitals wasn't getting all the facts