How big is your facility?

[Fonenurse]

Hi, I'm curious. I'm currently working on a project with an American company, and more and more I realise how different things are between the USA and the UK.

One issue is the size of facilities. In the UK our hospital is of an average size, for the UK. We have 800 beds in our facility. How big is your facility, wherever in the world you nurse???

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Our max capacity is 250, but that's if we're bunking them up in classrooms, and putting inpatients in the GI lab. Our average census is 155; a SLOW day is in the 110's and a packed house is 170 and up. If we see 190, we're getting very scared!

We're a level II trauma center also.

[liebling5, MSN, RN]

OK - we have a different system in the UK, so when you say level 1 center or level 2, can you explain what that means?

Level 1 or Level 2 trauma has to do with how serious the patient's condition. A Level 1 is the highest. They can take serious car crashes, gun shot victims, and whatever else rolls or walks in the door. If someone is airlifted from a crash, they'll likely go to a Level 1 trauma facility. Level 2 trauma centers treat patients whose condition is not as serious, but can get pretty crazy anyway.

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

i work in a level 1 - over 1000 beds (only adult), we have peds too in separate/connected/ same name hospital.

here is the wikipedia definition of the levels:

[edit] definitions in the united states

in the united states, trauma centers are ranked by the american college of surgeons (acs), from level i (comprehensive service) to level iii (limited-care). the different levels refer to the kinds of resources available in a trauma center and the number of patients admitted yearly. these are categories that define national standards for trauma care in hospitals. level i and level ii assignments are also given adult and or pediatric designations.[5] additionally, some states have their own trauma center rankings separate from the acs. these levels may range from level i to level iv.

[edit] level i

a level i trauma center provides the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients. it has a full range of specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day and admits a minimum required annual volume of severely injured patients. a level i trauma center is required to have a certain number of surgeons and anesthesiologists on duty 24 hours a day at the hospital, an education program, preventive and outreach programs. key elements include 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in varying specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and critical care, which are needed to adequately respond and care for various forms of trauma that a patient may suffer. additionally, a level i center has a program of research, is a leader in trauma education and injury prevention, and is a referral resource for communities in nearby regions.[6]

level i trauma center hospitals in most states in the u.s. (new york, and pennsylvania among others are notable exceptions)[citation needed] are designated by the american college of surgeons (acs) for a period of three years. pennsylvania has its own rankings system, based on the criteria of the commonwealth's trauma foundation.

the acs does not officially designate hospitals as regional trauma centers, however. numerous u.s. hospitals that are not listed on the organization's trauma roster nevertheless refer to their emergency or trauma units as "level i trauma centers." the acs describes that responsibility as "a geopolitical process by which empowered entities, government or otherwise, are authorized to designate." the acs's self-appointed mission is limited to confirming and reporting on any given hospital's ability to comply with the acs standard of care known as resources for optimal care of the injured patient.[7]

[edit] level ii

a level ii trauma center works in collaboration with a level i center. it provides comprehensive trauma care and supplements the clinical expertise of a level i institution. it provides 24-hour availability of all essential specialties, personnel, and equipment. minimum volume requirements may depend on local conditions. these institutions are not required to have an ongoing program of research or a surgical residency program.[6]

[edit] level iii

a level iii trauma center does not have the full availability of specialists, but does have resources for emergency resuscitation, surgery, and intensive care of most trauma patients. a level iii center has transfer agreements with level i or level ii trauma centers that provide back-up resources for the care of exceptionally severe injuries.[6]

[edit] level iv

a level iv trauma center exists in some states where the resources do not exist for a level iii trauma center. it provides initial evaluation, stabilization, diagnostic capabilities, and transfer to a higher level of care. it may also provide surgery and critical care services as defined in the scope of services of trauma care. a trauma trained nurse is immediately available, and physicians are available upon the patients arrival to the emergency department. transfer agreements exist with other trauma centers with higher levels when conditions warrant a transfer.[8][6]

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

My hospital system (3 facilities) has around 3,500 beds. We have 1,200 here at my particular site. My NICU has "58" beds, with the highest we've had around 85, and an ADC of 68.

[Nicky30, BSN, RN]

48 beds.

Regional Australia.