Medical Care Capacity for Influenza Outbreaks, Los Angeles

Abstract

In December 1997, media reported hospital overcrowding and “the worst [flu epidemic] in the past two decades” in Los Angeles County (LAC). We found that rates of pneumonia and influenza deaths, hospitalizations, and claims were substantially higher for the 1997–98 influenza season than the previous six seasons. Hours of emergency medical services (EMS) diversion (when emergency departments could not receive incoming patients) peaked during the influenza seasons studied; the number of EMS diversion hours per season also increased during the seasons 1993–94 to 1997–98, suggesting a decrease in medical care capacity during influenza seasons. Over the seven influenza seasons studied, the number of licensed beds decreased 12%, while the LAC population increased 5%. Our findings suggest that the capacity of health-care systems to handle patient visits during influenza seasons is diminishing.

The impact of SARS on a tertiary care pediatric emergency department

“…15,16,20 However, unlike the wellcharacterized and familiar symptoms and cause of influenza, SARS emerged as a new infection caused by a poorly understood virus. Furthermore, its rapid local and international spread and its ability to infect large numbers of healthy hospital staff, 5,21 some of whom required intensive care, generated much attention in the global media.…”

Viral etiology in adult influenza-like illness/acute respiratory infection and predictivity of C-reactive protein

“…Epidemic peaks during the winter months are usually caused by influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), while other viruses such as human metapneumovirus (MPV) and parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) also circulate in fall and winter [2]. There is a corresponding winter increase in presentations to emergency departments and outpatient clinics [3,4].…”

A Rapid Screening Test for the Diagnosis of Influenza Infection Incubation Period Using Coincidence Analysis of Pulse Waves

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