Hospital Disaster Preparedness

Health Care Surge: Overview

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.

This component of hospital preparedness not only enhances patient outcomes, but also strengthens the overall resilience of the health care system, enabling it to withstand and recover from emergencies more effectively.