METHODS: The analysis compared the year 2019 prior to COVID pandemia and years 2020 and 2021. The departments analysed were: Internal Medicine, Surgical Departments, along with patient admissions to regular Outpatient Clinics, the Emergency Department, and Afternoon Outpatient Clinics not reimbursed by national health system (private payments). The KPIs considered were: bed occupancy rates, admission rates average Length of Stay (LoS).

RESULTS: The survey results revealed a continuous reallocation of beds in response to the increasing demand from Covid-19 patients in 2020 and 2021. The Surgical Sector experienced a significant decrease in the number of clinics, inpatient admissions, and hospitalization days during the pandemic. Key inpatient flow indicators revealed a 13% increase in the Average LoS from 2019 to 2021 in the Internal Medicine Sector. The occupancy rate decreased by 7%, the admission rate decreased 18% and the turnover interval was set at 1 day over the 3year period. In the Surgical Sector, average LoS did not change significantly (-3%), but occupancy and admission rates decreased by 15% and 12% respectively, as the Pathology Sector managed the majority of patient cases. The patient turnover interval in the Surgical Section Clinics increased by 47% to 2.6 days. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in outpatient visits to the regular Outpatient Clinics (-34%), the Emergency Department (-16%) and Afternoon Outpatient Clinics (-33%) for the period 2019-2021. Statistical tests confirmed the statistical significance of this decrease, except for the Emergency Department in 2021 compared to 2019.

CONCLUSIONS: The Covid-19 pandemia and the implemented measures significantly affected the operation and patient flow patterns in Hippocration General Hospital of Athens in 2020 and 2021.