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Journal of Medical Systems
Published in: Journal of Medical Systems 1/2023

01-12-2023 | COVID-19 | Original Paper

Evaluating the Patient Boarding during Omicron Surge in Hong Kong: Time Series Analysis

Authors: Qihao Wu, Sunny Ching-long Chan, Teddy Tai-loy Lee, Kevin Wang-leong So, Omar Wai-kiu Tsui, Yong-Hong Kuo, Timothy Hudson Rainer, Abraham Ka-chung Wai

Published in: Journal of Medical Systems | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

The fifth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in Hong Kong (HK) from January to March 2022 has the highest confirmed cases and deaths compared with previous waves. Severe hospital boarding (to inpatient wards) was noted in various Emergency Departments (EDs). Our objective is to identify factors associated with hospital boarding during Omicron surge in HK. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all ED visits and inpatient (IP) ward admissions from January 1st to March 31st, 2022. Vector Autoregression model evaluated the effects of a single variable on the targeted hospital boarding variables. Admissions from elderly homes with 6 lag days held the highest positive value of statistical significance (t-stat = 2.827, P < .05) caused prolonged admission waiting time, while medical patients with 4 lag days had the highest statistical significance (t-stat = 2.530, P < .05) caused an increased number of boarding patients. Within one week after impulses, medical occupancy’s influence on the waiting time varied from 0.289 on the 1st day to -0.315 on the 7th day. While occupancy of medical wards always positively affected blocked number of patients, and its response was maximized at 0.309 on the 2nd day. Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was not the sole significant contributor, while occupancy of medical wards was still a critical factor associated with patient boarding. Increasing ward capacity and controlling occupancy were suggested during the outbreak. Moreover, streamlining elderly patients in ED could be an approach to relieve pressure on the healthcare system.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluating the Patient Boarding during Omicron Surge in Hong Kong: Time Series Analysis
Authors
Qihao Wu
Sunny Ching-long Chan
Teddy Tai-loy Lee
Kevin Wang-leong So
Omar Wai-kiu Tsui
Yong-Hong Kuo
Timothy Hudson Rainer
Abraham Ka-chung Wai
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
Journal of Medical Systems / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 0148-5598
Electronic ISSN: 1573-689X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-023-01964-x

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