What the study found
The study found that emergency departments at two German university hospitals saw fewer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and that care patterns changed compared with 2019. The authors also identified several lessons for preparing emergency departments for future health crises.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that improving pandemic preparedness in emergency departments is important. They suggest that organizational changes, effective communication, and emotional support for staff are crucial for improving response capacity, resilience, and operational adaptability in future pandemics.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used an exploratory, convergent mixed-method study design. They combined semi-structured interviews with 16 emergency department staff members, thematic analysis of those interviews, and descriptive analysis of routine data from 56,842 patient records, using group comparisons and mixed-effects models to examine changes in utilization, care patterns, and patient flow during the pandemic compared with 2019.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis showed a decline in patient numbers, changes in length of stay, referrals to intensive care unit, and in-hospital mortality compared with 2019. The interviews also described increased workload from rapid adjustments and a flood of information, along with two main tensions in care: providing optimal care while conserving resources, and providing optimal treatment while following hygiene guidelines.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not provide detailed limitations beyond the study being conducted at two university emergency departments in Germany. The findings and suggested lessons are based on the specific setting and the data described in the abstract.
Key points
- Emergency departments in two German university hospitals had fewer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic than in 2019.
- Care patterns changed, including length of stay, ICU referrals, and in-hospital mortality.
- Staff interviews described increased workload caused by rapid adjustments and heavy information demands.
- Two recurring dilemmas were conserving resources versus providing optimal care, and hygiene compliance versus optimal treatment.
- The authors identified six preparedness areas, including communication, staff safety, infection detection, distancing, resource management, and discharge management.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Emergency departments saw fewer patients and changed care patterns during COVID-19
- Authors:
- Jennifer Hitzek, Bettina Völzer, Martina Schmiedhofer, Dörte Huscher, Anja Alberter, Miriam Mayer, Martin Möckel, Anna Slagman
- Institutions:
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-10
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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