Hospitals are grappling with the challenges posed by patient volume surges, especially in emergency departments (EDs). Whether it’s flu season, staffing shortages or a weather-induced challenge, these surges can lead to dangerous gaps in care, overworked physicians and higher patient mortality rates. To address this growing problem, hospitals have increasingly turned to telemedicine solutions such as Eagle Surge Protection™. By providing immediate access to remote physicians, telemedicine surge protection helps manage patient loads effectively and ensures better patient outcomes.
Why Patient Surges Put Hospitals at Risk
Surges in patient volume can happen for a variety of reasons. Flu season alone often overwhelms hospital EDs, leading to long wait times, overburdened staff and compromised care quality. In rural hospitals, the impact is even more severe due to the shortage of emergency care providers. As these physicians retire or seek career changes, the rural hospitals they once covered often go without adequate coverage, creating a significant risk for patients needing urgent care.
Research has shown that patient outcomes worsen dramatically when patient volumes are high, particularly during night shifts or early morning hours when staffing is minimal. This statistic is especially concerning for stroke patients. A 2024 study found that patients admitted to the ED at night with stroke symptoms had a higher risk of lengthy door-to-needle time due to understaffing and delayed interventions. Additionally, the early morning hours are critical for patients with ischemic stroke.
The Heightened Risk During Crises
The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated just how dangerous hospital surges can be. During the spring of 2020, a study of 117 U.S. hospitals revealed their mortality rate was one-third higher during peak surges when hospital resources were stretched thin. As a result of the influx of patients the pandemic brought, hospitals had to divert resources, leaving those in intensive care units (ICUs) more vulnerable to hospital-acquired infections like pneumonia, which further increased mortality rates.
Heightened risks come in many forms. For example, the recent flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene spiked hospital surge rates to an all-time high. This surge was due to the increased need for help and surrounding hospitals transferring patients due to damage and wait times.
Many hospitals resort to on-call systems to manage surges, but these systems have drawbacks. Jeopardy doctors, paid at higher rates, are often called in on their days off, leading to physician burnout. On the other end of the spectrum, some ED physicians hesitate to request additional help for fear of overworking their colleagues, leaving departments short-staffed, which puts patient care at risk.
How Telemedicine Solves the Surge Problem
Virtual care access via telemedicine has emerged as a crucial tool for addressing the risks associated with hospital surges. With Eagle Surge Protection, hospitals can receive support from Tele-Hospitalists who are able to complete H&Ps and enter orders directly in the hospital’s EMR. While particularly valuable for rural hospitals with limited local physician resources, this scalable solution is also a game-changer for metropolitan hospitals where surges can occur without warning.
Eagle Surge Protection also allows hospitals to avoid hiring expensive backup physicians or overworking their existing staff. Instead, hospitals can quickly deploy remote physicians to handle admissions, triage or patient care requirement changes, ensuring patients and staff receive the support they need.
Key Benefits of Eagle Surge Protection
- Immediate Access to Remote Physicians
During patient surges, quick access is essential. Eagle Surge Protection offers immediate support, ensuring hospitals can keep up with demand, reducing ED wait times and improving patient outcomes by providing timely care. - Reducing Physician Burnout
Physician burnout is a significant concern, especially when hospitalists consistently need to work on their days off. Eagle Surge Protection alleviates this by offering a telemedicine-based solution that allows staff to get much-needed rest while ensuring their patients are in good hands. - Cost-Effective Staffing
Traditional backup systems rely on jeopardy doctors who command higher pay, increasing hospital costs. Eagle Surge Protection provides a more affordable alternative that offers the flexibility to scale staffing based on real-time needs without breaking the budget. - Improving Patient Safety and Outcomes
Surges in patient volume can lead to delayed care, higher mortality rates and hospital-acquired infections. Eagle Surge Protection ensures that no patient is left waiting, even during the busiest times, reducing the risk of complications and improving overall safety.
As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for scalable, efficient solutions to manage patient surges is more critical than ever. Eagle Telemedicine’s surge solution offers hospitals a proven way to maintain patient care quality, even during peak times, without overburdening staff or inflating costs. With the growing physician shortage and the increasing unpredictability of healthcare crises, telemedicine solutions are becoming an indispensable part of hospital management strategies. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Give us a call today to learn how we can equip your hospital with the support and protection it needs to face current and future patient surges with confidence.
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