Changes in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient characteristics and resource use in a system of community hospitals in the United States.

Kenneth E Sands,Richard P Wenzel,Karla M Miller,Russell E Poland,Kimberly M Korwek,L Hayley Burgess,Jonathan B Perlin,Jonathon D Roach,Laura E Mclean,Edmund S Jackson

doi:10.1017/ice.2020.1264

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has migrated to regions that were initially spared, and it is likely that different populations are currently at risk for illness. Herein, we present our observations of the change in characteristics and resource use of COVID-19 patients over time in a national system of community hospitals to help inform those managing surge planning, operational management, and future policy decisions.

Highlights

Demographic data were collected from the electronic health records of inpatients with discharged from facilities affiliated with a large healthcare system
Aggregated data for age, race, ethnicity, length of stay, level of care, discharge disposition, and select treatments were analyzed by month
Using data from COVID-19 patients admitted to community hospitals across the United States during nonsurge conditions, we showed that patient age and other characteristics changed over time, outcomes are improving for all patients

Summary

Introduction

Demographic data were collected from the electronic health records of inpatients with discharged from facilities affiliated with a large healthcare system. The HCA Healthcare system consists of 186 hospitals and >2,000 sites of care located in 21 states and the United Kingdom. Acute-care facilities consist primarily of urban and suburban community hospitals as well as specialty and tertiary referral facilities. These facilities provide ~5% of all inpatient hospital services in the United States. Affiliated facilities are distributed geographically across the country with a concentration in the southern United State

Methods

Results

Conclusion