The Netherlands journal of medicine
-
Observational Study
Implementation of point-of-care testing and a temporary influenza ward in a Dutch hospital.
The seasonal influenza epidemic poses a significant burden on hospitals, both in terms of capacity and costs. Beds that are occupied by isolated influenza patients result in hospitals temporary being closed to admissions and elective operations being cancelled. Improving hospital and emergency department (ED) patient flow during the influenza season could solve these problems. Microbiological point-of-care-testing (POCT) could reduce unnecessary patient isolation by providing a positive/negative result before admission, but has not yet broadly been implemented. ⋯ We recommend that hospitals explore possibilities for improving patient flow during an influenza epidemic.