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The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new guidelines are a contributing factor to the increase in hospitalization reports.
New guidelines mean patients occupying observation beds are now counted in as hospitalized.
“Per updated (10/6) HHS guidelines, patients occupying "Observation" beds (>8hrs) are now included in Hospital admission totals. They were not counted as admissions in July's guidelines,” Arizona-based writer and researcher A.J. Kay said on Twitter.
The new guidelines for hospital reporting were revealed on Oct. 6.
“Total hospitalized adults suspected or confirmed positive COVID patients,” reads the statement issued by HHS. “Patients currently hospitalized in an adult inpatient bed who have laboratory-confirmed or suspected COVID19 include those in observation beds.”
This makes a comparison between previous guidelines and the more recent bed counts inappropriate.
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