OBSERVATION UNITS: 20 percent are admitted

Couple of interesting tidbits from this lead article about observation care in the newsletter ED Management:

• Typical size of an observation unit is 8 to 10 beds
• About 20 percent of patients in observation status are admitted as inpatients
• Observation status use is expected to continue to increase

Source: The first two bullet points are from Dr. Michael Ross, Emory University Hospital, and the third is part of the text of the article, cited in: As CMS makes another policy change, policy makers distinguish between different forms of care.  ED Management;25(10):109-114, Oct. 2013.  Click here for publisher’s website: http://www.ahcmedia.com/public/products/ED-Management.html  Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org