Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Healthcare

Study: Florida’s Pediatric Wards Among Most Overcrowded in U.S.

New research has revealed which states have the most overwhelmed children’s wards, with Florida ranking tenth. 

  • Florida ranks tenth in the U.S., with 71.7% of children’s beds occupied. 
  • Idaho ranks number one, working at 55.3% over capacity with 155.3% of children’s hospital beds occupied. 
  • Alaska has the least overwhelmed children’s hospitals, with just 22% of beds occupied on average. 

Injury lawyers at Bader Scott analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to find the total number of pediatric beds across all hospitals in each state, as well as the average number that were occupied during April 2024, the most recent month with available data. They found the percentage of occupied beds in each state to determine which ones have the most overcrowded children’s wards.  

Idaho ranks number one, with 155.3% of children’s beds occupied in April 2024, working at 55.3% over capacity. The state also only has one dedicated pediatric hospital, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

Texas is next, with 87.9% of children’s beds occupied. The state has the highest total number of children’s beds in the ranking at 3,627, the second highest in the U.S., however, its pediatric wards are the second most overwhelmed in the country.  

Oklahoma is third, with 82.5% of children’s beds taken. There are 359 children’s beds across hospitals in Oklahoma, with an average of 296 occupied at one time.  

Missouri places fourth, with 82.3% of children’s beds occupied. There are 779 beds in total, with 641 typically in use. 

Pennsylvania is fifth, with 80.4% of its children’s beds in use. The state has 1,612 in total, with an average of 1,296 occupied at one time. 

Rhode Island is sixth, with 77.6% of its children’s beds filled. In total, the state has 152 beds, and an average of 118 are occupied at once. 

Massachusetts ranks seventh, with 77.1% of children’s beds taken. Overall, Massachusetts has 869 children’s beds in its hospitals, with 670 in use on average. 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

New Mexico is eighth, with 75.9% of its children’s beds occupied. Of the 141 beds available, 107 are typically in use. 

Nebraska also comes in eighth, with 75.9% of its children’s beds filled. The state has 344 beds, with an average of 261 occupied at any time. 

Washington is ninth, with 72.8% of children’s beds in use. There are 511 children’s beds across hospitals in Washington, with 372 usually occupied. 

Florida rounds out the top ten, with 71.7% of its children’s beds occupied. In total, the state has 2,437 children’s beds, with an average of 1,748 in use. 

On the other hand, the state with the smallest percentage of children’s beds occupied is Alaska, at 22%.  

“High bed occupancy in children’s wards can be addressed by increasing things like staffing levels, efficiency of patient flow, and overall number of patient beds,” Seth Bader, a spokesperson for Bader Scott, said. “This research has provided useful insight into the important issue of overoccupancy in children’s wards, which many states are facing, by highlighting the states struggling the most. However, implementing these changes can be challenging, with factors such as budget constraints when hiring new staff and physical space limitations when expanding bed capacity. While there are some outside factors, such as seasonal illnesses, that can’t be controlled, it is crucial that healthcare services focus on relieving some of the pressure on children’s wards and aim to find sustainable solutions through careful planning, investment, and coordination.” 

This information was provided by Bader Scott, personal injury lawyers.  

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter

Follow Us on Social Media

Related Stories

Healthcare

Below is an official news release from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding a recent 5 star rating for the Orlando VA Healthcare...

Education

Below is an official statement from the office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis following his press conference in Daytona Beach: Governor Ron DeSantis visited Daytona...

Florida News

A recent study revealed that Florida ranks among the top ten states that have shown the best improvements in the mental health of their...

Healthcare

Aging can be challenging, but the right tools can make it easier. I knew selecting a healthcare plan with comprehensive coverage was crucial, so...

Economy

A new rule being proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB) would remove unpaid medical bills from an individual’s credit report when applying...

Healthcare

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known “Obamacare” went into effect, advocates of the government program have claimed that the high cost to...

Healthcare

This year, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the country’s economic outlook over the next ten years will be massively affected by spending increases...

Healthcare

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis blames the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare”, for facilitating fraud in the Sunshine State. Patronis sent a...