Staffed Beds and Data Reporting
Understanding the capacity of available beds and available staff across the UMMS health care System is important as Incident Commanders and leaders at all affiliate hospitals collaborate and support one another during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new protocol has been put in place to allow each hospital to consistently document and report the number of staffed beds available, utilizing a universal tracking system. Staffed beds are defined as those occupied and vacant with sufficient clinical staffing in place to facilitate care for patients who may be admitted and placed in those beds.
Staffed beds data should be documented at the beginning of each nursing shift and can be reported at the unit level by a designated charge nurse or administrator, or at the affiliate level by a nursing supervisor or other designated leader.
The UMMS Data and Analytics team, part of the Information Technology Department, will generate a report for each hospital and distribute it on a daily basis to hospital Incident Commanders and on a weekly basis to hospital CEOs.
A tip sheet has been developed to help guide staff on how to correctly document and report this data.
Click here for Guidance on Staffed Beds and Data Reporting.
FAQs
How are we defining “staffed beds?”
Staffed beds are those that are occupied OR vacant, with sufficient clinical staffing in place to facilitate care for patients who are admitted and placed in those beds.
Why is it important to share staffed beds data across the System?
The collection and sharing of this data provides transparency and visibility across the System about availability and limitations at each hospital. This information is valuable in the event that patients need to be transferred to various units within a hospital, or between affiliate institutions, as we continue to manage the impact of COVID-19.
Who is responsible for reporting the information?
Data can be reported into the system by a designated charge nurse or administrator on each unit, or it can be reported at the affiliate level by a nursing supervisor or other leader capable of collecting and inputting capacity data for the entire hospital. Processes may vary between hospitals and units.
How will the information be shared?
UMMS’ Data and Analytics team, part of the IT Department, will generate and distribute a report containing staffed beds data to hospital Incident Commanders on a daily basis. The report will be shared with hospital CEOs on a weekly basis.