# Decision Makers

CHIME allows decision makers in hospitals to project the potential burden of inpatient hospitalizations and patients requiring intensive care/mechanical ventilation. This information can be utilized to plan for increased resource needs before your hospital system is overwhelmed (e.g. beds, [ICU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_care_unit) beds, ventilators, [PPE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_protective_equipment), etc). It also can be used as a tool to estimate the benefits of social distancing in reducing these burdens on health systems, which can be communicated to public health officials or the public at large.