A retrospective multistate analysis: Do regional football games impact emergency department patient volume?

Abstract

Abstract Objective We sought to assess the effect of National Football League (NFL) games played by a regional sports team, the New England Patriots, on emergency department (ED) patient volume. Methods We conducted a multicenter, retrospective chart review at the following 3 tertiary centers in New England from 2012 to 2019: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; and Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME. Results Within the NFL season, we observed a 2.6% overall decrease (−10.4 patients) in average total daily volume across the study sites on Sundays when Patriots games were played compared with Sundays when games were not played (P = 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], −22.37 to 1.62). We observed a 4.3% reduction (−19.0 patients) in average total daily volume across the study sites on Mondays during which Patriots games were played compared with Mondays without games (P = 0.15; 95% CI, −43.51 to 5.47). Subanalyses on the 5‐hour period corresponding with each Patriots game showed reductions in mean patient volume per hour. Although our primary and subanalyses showed reductions in patient volume during Patriots games, these results were not statistically significant. Conclusions Our data support prior studies that showed a minimal impact of major sporting events on ED patient volume at tertiary centers. These results add to the limited data on this topic and can inform administrators whether staffing adjustments are necessary during similar types of sporting events.