Eleven Illinois hospitals, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Brook, were on diversion Jan. 7 due to crowded EDs, according to the report.
Some of the hospitals attributed the high ED volume to increased flu cases. “Several of the other hospitals that went on bypass disagreed that their bypass status was because of influenza, though few offered alternative explanations,” according to the report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced there are elevated levels of influenza-like illness in most parts of the country.
More Articles on ED Utilization:
Study: Ambulance Diversion Ban Did Not Increase ED Crowding
Study: Coordinated Care May Reduce Disabled Adult ED Visits
Rolling Out the Red Carpet for ED “Super-Utilizers”? Taking a Patient-Centered Approach
