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National Hospital Available Beds for Emergencies and Disasters (HAvBED) System

Appendix F. HAvBED Bed Definitions

Figure depicts two concentric circles. The outer circle is labeled 'Licensed.' The inner circle is labeled 'Staffed,' and divided into 3 parts like a pie chart; the largest section, approximately 80 percent of the circle, is labeled 'Occupied,' and the two smaller section, each approximately 10 percent of the circle, are labeled 'Unstaffed' and 'Vacant/Unavailable.' Below the circles, a key reads: 'Staffed Beds = Vacant/Available Beds + Occupied Beds. Physical Available Beds = Staffed + Unstaffed Beds.'

Bed Types:

The types of beds to be reported to the HAvBED Project include:

  • Adult Intensive Care (ICU): beds that can support critically ill/injured patients, including ventilator support.
  • Medical/Surgical: also thought of as "Ward" beds.
  • Burn: thought of as Burn ICU beds, either approved by the American Burn Association or self-designated. (These beds are NOT to be included in other ICU bed counts.).
  • Pediatric ICU: as for Adult ICU, but for patients 17 years and younger.
  • Pediatrics: "Ward Medical/Surgical" beds for patients 17 and younger.
  • Psychiatric: "ward" beds on a closed/locked psychiatric unit or ward beds where a patient will be attended by a sitter.
  • Negative Pressure/Isolation—Beds provided with negative airflow, providing respiratory isolation. Note: This value may represent available beds included in the counts of other types.
  • Operating Rooms—An operating room that is equipped, staffed and could be made available for patient care in a short period of time.

Note that these definitions for "Bed Type" are recommendations, only. Each institution may wish to make minor adjustments based on unique aspects of their institution.

24hr Beds Available:

This value will represent an informed estimate as to how many vacant (staffed, unoccupied) beds for each bed type above the current number that could be made available within 24 hours. This would include created institutional surge beds as well as beds made available by discharging/transferring patients.

72hr Beds Available:

This value will represent an informed estimate as to how many vacant (staffed, unoccupied) beds for each bed type above the current number that could be made available within 72 hours. This would include created institutional surge beds as well as beds made available by discharging/transferring patients.

Emergency Department Status:

  • Open—Accepting patients by ambulance.
  • Closed—Not accepting patients by ambulance.
  • N/A—Not Applicable (Hospital does not have an ED).

Mass Decontamination Facility Availability:

  • Available—The institution has chemical/biological/radiological multiple patient decontamination capability.
  • Not Available—The institution is unable to provide chemical/biological/radiological patient decontamination.

Ventilators:

  • Available—The number of ventilators that are present in the institution but are currently not in use and could be supported by currently available staff.

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