Organisation and Management of Information on the Capacity Utilisation of Hospital Beds on Different Weekdays

The study analyses the organisation and management of information on inpatient bed utilisation by weekday at two hospitals in Essen. It aims to identify day- and time-dependent occupancy patterns to support action-oriented management of admissions, discharges, capacity and staffing, especially from Monday to Friday. The analysis is based on retrospective data from over 610,000 patients (2023–2024), using documented occupancy days and length-of-stay timestamps differentiated by department and weekday. Results show significantly higher occupancy on weekdays, with peaks from Tuesday to Thursday, and a clear decline at weekends. A daily peak between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. is linked to overlaps between admission and discharge processes. During these periods, targeted information and communication structures are essential to reduce the risk of breakdowns. Blocked beds further influence practical occupancy. A weak but significant correlation is found between reason for admission and day of admission. Overall, the study highlights the importance of time- and day-specific capacity planning and information processes for evidence-based hospital management.