Why is Bed Occupancy Rate Important in Epidemiology?

In the context of epidemiology, the bed occupancy rate is crucial for several reasons:

Resource Allocation: High BOR can indicate overburdened healthcare systems, which may necessitate additional resources or strategic planning.
Outbreak Management: During outbreaks of infectious diseases, monitoring BOR helps in understanding the disease burden and the impact on healthcare facilities.
Quality of Care: Extremely high BORs can compromise the quality of patient care, leading to increased mortality and morbidity.
Public Health Policy: Accurate BOR data aids in formulating effective public health policies and emergency response plans.