What does a Bypass (red) status mean?

A Bypass (red) status indicates a situation where a hospital is diverting all 911 ambulance traffic, with the exception of in-extremis patients—those whose conditions are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. This status is a critical measure taken when a hospital is unable to accommodate additional patients due to factors such as overcrowding, limited resources, or other operational challenges.

In this scenario, the hospital focuses on ensuring the safety and care of patients who are in critical need, while temporarily preventing other non-critical patients from being transported there for emergency care. This is essential for maintaining quality of care and effective emergency response, protecting both patients and healthcare providers.

The other options do not fully encompass the specific implications of a Bypass status. While accepting all ambulance patients and responding to internal disasters are vital components of hospital operations, they do not accurately reflect the condition indicated by a Bypass (red) status. Additionally, while an operational capacity exceeding could lead to a Bypass status, it is not the definition itself; rather, it is one of the reasons why a hospital may declare such a status.