A new study conducted by researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health has revealed critical insights into how ICU capacity influenced patient mortality during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado. A major public health objective during the pandemic was to "flatten the curve" to prevent overwhelming hospital and ICU capacities, which would have led to deteriorated standards of care and high mortality rates. While Colorado successfully avoided such a crisis, this study delves into the subtler effects of high ICU occupancy on patient outcomes.