With flu season rapidly approaching, medical centers are beginning to plan for a potentially rough year. The impact an increase in patients can have to patient flow is significant, and when you also have a shortage of staff, the impact can be even greater.

The ER in Winnipeg, Canada, mentioned in this article, discusses how the shortage of nurses and the increase in patients from flu will greatly impede optimal patient flow. The Health Sciences Center is attempting to create a nurse pool of experienced RNs to fill staffing vacancies during the upcoming flu season. When the number of patients being admitted increases, and the staffing remains low, it stands to reason that there will be bottlenecks in the process. Thinking ahead and planning for seasonal changes that can impact flow is the best way to minimize the challenges.