Lee MO, et al. - Researchers investigated how the risk of patient safety and quality outcomes-transfer to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), mortality, hospital-acquired infections (HAI), falls, and 72-hour hospital readmission-are influenced by Alternative Care Areas (AltCA) beds that are located in inpatient hallways, cardiac catheterization lab, and endoscopy. Patients (n=16,801; aged >18 years) admitted from the ED to non-ICU beds at an urban, academic hospital were studied in this retrospective cohort study. Among these, 622 (3.7%) patients were in AltCA beds. Findings revealed no increased risk of patient safety and quality outcomes for these patients. Instead, they were noted to be at reduced risk of transfer to ICU and HAI than standard inpatient beds.