Seasonal Patterns of Hospital Use in Winnipeg: Implications for Managing Winter Bed Crises

Abstract

This study examined whether Winnipeg hospitals experience predictable “highvolume periods” in order to determine whether hospital overcrowding might be anticipated and, therefore, avoided. We found that highvolume periods among medical patients occurred during all but one year between 1987 and 1998. Most highvolume periods occurred during influenza seasons. Preventing such recurrent bed pressures requires a multi-faceted approach, involving preventive efforts to reduce hospital admissions (influenza vaccination) and alternatives to managing the hospital system.