Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
14:55
Evaluating the Effect of Roadside Parking on a Dual-Direction Urban Street
Published on: January 20, 2023
Developing models for patient flow and daily surge capacity research.
Brent R Asplin1, Thomas J Flottemesch, Bradley D Gordon
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA. brent.r.asplin@healthpartners.com
Summary
Emergency department visits are rising while capacity shrinks. This study explores daily surge capacity and patient flow, proposing models for better hospital management and research.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Hospital Management
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- U.S. emergency department (ED) visits increased 26% (1993-2003) to 114 million annually.
- Simultaneously, over 400 EDs closed, and nearly 200,000 inpatient beds were removed.
- This highlights critical concerns regarding daily surge capacity in healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the intersection of daily surge capacity and patient flow research agendas.
- To introduce novel models applicable to both daily surge capacity and hospital-wide patient flow.
- To identify future research directions based on these proposed models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and conceptual analysis of surge capacity and patient flow research.
- Development of two theoretical models for surge capacity and patient flow.
- Identification of research questions stemming from model applications.
Main Results:
- Established the overlap between daily surge capacity and patient flow research.
- Proposed two models with potential applications for managing hospital patient flow and surge capacity.
- Outlined specific research questions for future investigation in this domain.
Conclusions:
- Daily surge capacity is a critical, under-researched area linked to patient flow.
- The proposed models offer a framework for advancing research in surge capacity and patient flow.
- Further research is needed to validate and apply these models for improved healthcare system efficiency.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Typical Model Studies
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
01:17Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
01:21Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
01:17Flow Sheet
Flowsheets are valuable tools in nursing documentation. They enable healthcare professionals to efficiently record and monitor various patient assessments and measurements in a consolidated format.
Here's a closer look at the examples of flowsheets commonly used by nurses:
Graphic Sheet Documentation:
Here's a closer look at the examples of flowsheets commonly used by nurses:
Graphic Sheet Documentation:
00:57Physiological Pharmacokinetic Models: Blood Flow-Limited Versus Diffusion-Limited Models
Physiological pharmacokinetic models, often called flow-limited or perfusion models, typically assume a swift drug distribution between tissue and venous blood, creating a rapid drug equilibrium. This premise is based on the idea that drug diffusion is extremely fast, and the cell membrane presents no barrier to drug permeation. In this scenario, where no drug binding occurs, the drug concentration in the tissue equals that of the venous blood leaving the tissue. This greatly simplifies the...
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...