Objective: This study compares emergency department (ED) admission and hospitalization numbers in different weather conditions and control periods. The aim of the study is to assess the needs and the preparedness for different weather conditions in the context of a regional hospital (Ziv Medical Center– ZMC).
Method: Data was obtained retrospectively from ZMC's records for periods of snowstorm, heat wave, and haze storm, and included number of EDadmissions, age and gender, number of hospitalizations, hospitalization wards, and main diagnoses. For each period of extreme weather condition, a control period was chosen.
Results: Comparing to control periods, we found an increase in EDadmissions during heat waves and haze storms, and a decrease during snowstorms. Hospitalization rate was high during heat waves, and did not change during haze storm in comparison to the control period.
Conclusions: We conclude that different resources need to be allocated to the ED and hospitalization wards during different changes in weather conditions.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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