CEDOCS = −20 + 85.8 × (Total patients ÷ ED beds) + 600 × (Admitted patients ÷ Hospital beds) + 13.4 × Ventilated patients + 0.93 × Longest admit wait (hours) + 5.64 × Last bed time (hours)

Variables

Total patients: all patients currently in the ED, including waiting room, fast track and observation.
ED beds: all staffed ED treatment spaces, including hallway and chair bays.
Admitted patients: patients accepted for admission but still boarding in the ED.
Hospital beds: total inpatient beds that could be used for admitted patients.
Ventilated patients: ED patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.
Longest admit wait: time in hours that the longest-waiting admitted patient has been in the ED.
Last bed time: time in hours from ED arrival to bed placement for the most recently bedded patient.

Scores typically lie between 0 and 200, but higher values are possible.

Interpretation bands

Score	Category
0–20	Not busy
21–60	Busy
61–100	Extremely busy but not overcrowded
101–140	Overcrowded
141–180	Severely overcrowded
≥181	Dangerously overcrowded

CEDOCS Score for Emergency Department Overcrowding