Changes have recently been made to the clinical variables shared on the MDHHS website. These changes were made to align with the new reporting requirements from the federal government. To better accommodate all users of this data, MDHHS is expanding the data provided from the previous clinical variables section to the information described in the new clinical variables section. Data users should carefully consider which variables meet their current or ongoing needs for information.

Previous Clinical Variables:

# of ED Discharges - The number of patients discharged home (or equivalent) from ED with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in past 24 hours. INCLUDE hospital urgent care and ED drive through.

# in Critical Care - The CURRENT number of patients in critical care units with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. INCLUDE non-critical care areas being used for surge critical care. DO NOT INCLUDE ED boarding/overflow (patients currently admitted and awaiting bed).

# on Ventilators - The CURRENT number of patients receiving mechanical ventilation with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. DO NOT INCLUDE ED boarding/overflow (patients currently admitted and awaiting bed) and surge critical care areas.

# of Inpatients - The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 among admitted patients.

New Clinical Variables:

Previous Day’s COVID-19-related ED Visits ( Enter the total number of ED visits who were seen on the previous calendar day who had a visit related to COVID-19 (meets suspected or confirmed definition or presents for COVID diagnostic testing – do not count patients who present for pre-procedure screening).)

Total ICU adult suspected or confirmed positive COVID patients (Patients currently hospitalized in an adult ICU bed who have suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.)

Hospitalized ICU adult confirmed-positive COVID patients (same as above, laboratory confirmed only)

Hospitalized and ventilated COVID patients (Patients currently hospitalized in an adult, pediatric or neonatal inpatient bed who have suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and are on a mechanical ventilator (as defined in 7 above).)

Total hospitalized adult suspected or confirmed positive COVID patients (Patients currently hospitalized in an adult inpatient bed who have laboratory-confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Include those in observation beds.)

Hospitalized adult confirmed-positive COVID patients (same as above, laboratory confirmed only)

Total hospitalized pediatric suspected or confirmed positive COVID patients (Patients currently hospitalized in a pediatric inpatient bed, including NICU, newborn, and nursery, who are suspected or laboratory-confirmed-positive for COVID-19. Include those in observation beds.)

Hospitalized pediatric confirmed-positive COVID patients (Patients currently hospitalized in a pediatric inpatient bed, including NICU, newborn, and nursery, who have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Include those in observation beds.)