The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care delivery systems world-wide by straining scarce resources, such as critical care therapeutics, hospital beds and clinical staff, necessitating drastic public health measures.
Planning for infectious disease disasters is crucial for hospitals to ensure prompt and coordinated responses to outbreaks, minimizing the impact on public health. Effective preparedness strategies enable health care facilities to manage increased patient volumes, safeguard medical staff, and maintain essential services during crises. By anticipating potential challenges, such as resource shortages and infection control measures, hospitals can implement protocols that enhance patient care and community trust.
All skilled-nursing and nursing facilities are required by federal regulations to “have detailed written plans and procedures to meet all potential emergencies and disasters, such as fire, severe weather, and missing residents.” California’s Health and Safety Code and California’s Code of Regulations – Title 22, (T22) specify the “details” that are required in the facility emergency plan. To help facilities prepare for the external disaster plan review during the annual survey process, the Department of Homeland Security has developed an optional self-assessment tool.
Hospitals facing a sudden rise in emergency department patients may find it necessary to establish a surge tent for triage purposes.
Developed by Rady Children’s Hospital & San Diego County Healthcare Disaster Council, this curriculum aims to prepare hospitals to meet the response challenges in disasters where there is a surge of child victims.
California Department of Public Health developed a tool for hospitals on general emergency response planning and related integration activities.
Creating immediate surge capacity for critically injured patients in a mass casualty incident (MCI) is critical in MCI response. However, the current era of hospital overcrowding and emergency department (ED) boarding has undermined the ability of the ED to create surge capacity. Brigham and Women’s Hospital has leveraged the buffer zone concept within their ED to temporarily and rapidly increase capacity to care for critical patients during an MCI.
In this CHA-member on-demand learning session, Dr. Goldberg highlights Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s experience with developing and implementing buffer zones as part of their institution’s MCI plans and highlight the lessons learned during the operationalization of their buffer zone plan.
Developed by the California Hospital Association’s Hospital Preparedness Program, this tool is designed to assist in evaluating and enhancing hospital surge capacity planning. It provides a comprehensive list of key components of surge planning, including staffing, space, supplies, communication, patient care, quality, training, and exercises.
Planning for health care surges during disasters is crucial for hospitals to ensure they can effectively respond to sudden increases in patient volume. Disasters can overwhelm medical facilities–having surge plans in place allow hospitals to optimize resource allocation, manage staff and equipment efficiently, and maintain continuity of care for both surge and non-surge patients.
Hospitals are better equipped to respond effectively to potential threats when they have clearly defined procedures for reporting cases and accessing necessary resources.