Table 7 Factors affecting the required number of hospital beds
Demand factors | Supply factors | External factors |
|---|---|---|
Admission rates | Average length of stay | Political pressures |
Hospitalization rates | Current bed numbers | Policy changes |
Population changes | Waiting time | Sub-regional access |
Seasonal effects | Bed occupancy rate | Inter-regional flows |
Epidemiological changes such as diseases prevalence | Medical and technological advances | |
Emergency cases and future emergency trends | Hospital efficiency | |
Clinical and service performance | ||
Region of patient residence (rural or urban) | Alternatives to hospital care | |
Patient transfers to other providers | ||
Funding level | ||
The type of care (surgical or non-surgical) |