MikeDotta / Shutterstock.com

Hospitals Struggle with Accurate COVID-19 Data

Some hospitals have not been able to track the number of patients who might have contracted COVID-19 during a stay


Controlling the spread of COVID-19 is difficult enough in hospitals, given the many variables at work, including screening procedures, sanitizing practices, air filtration measures and the outside activities of doctors, nurses and staff. In some cases, however, hospitals also are having difficulty gathering accurate data on the spread of the illness among patients.

For example, how many patients enter a Connecticut hospital with a broken leg or some other type of emergency and then contracting COVID-19 while hospitalized? It’s impossible to say because officials with the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) have not been able to track the number of patients who might have contracted COVID-19 during a hospital stay, according to CT News Junkie. But when people do test positive for the novel coronavirus after being admitted for other reasons, the state is counting those patients as COVID-19 hospitalizations, says a DPH spokesman.

It’s easier to trace COVID-19 infections in nursing homes since most residents have been at the facility for longer than two weeks, officials said. But in a hospital setting where most patients only stay a short time, it’s difficult to tell where a person contracted the disease, according to CTNewsJunkie.

Click here to read the article.



December 10, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Spaces That Support: Patient-Centered Design for Modern Reproductive Health

Modern facilities must integrate highly specialized laboratories with thoughtful, patient-centered spaces that prioritize privacy, comfort and emotional well-being.


Modernization of Buildings Require Collaboration Across All Disciplines

Retrofitting outdated facilities requires consulting all departments on how to best improve operations.


Children's Health Announces Plans for RedBird Specialty Center in Texas

The system expects to welcome its first patients in December 2027.


How Can Healthcare Facilities Use Efficiency to Drive Climate and Health Goals?

Keith Edgerton discusses how the Health Care Energy & Water Efficiency Checklist helps healthcare connect operational savings with their mission to protect people and the planet.


El Camino Health Rehabilitation Hospital Officially Tops Out

This new 64,000-square-foot, 52-bed inpatient facility in Sunnyvale, California, will enhance rehabilitation services in Santa Clara County.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.