“For general hospital beds that are not ICU-level, many consider a bed shortage to occur at an 85% national hospital occupancy, marked by unacceptably long waiting times in emergency departments, medication errors, and other in-hospital adverse events,” Leuchter said.

The research predicted that 85% of all hospital adult patient beds will be occupied by 2032 and 85% of adult and pediatric beds combined will be occupied by 2035. The greater problem isn't the anticipated higher number of patients but the expectation that staff shortages will continue.