Hospital Disaster Preparedness

Patient Movement Surge Playbook

2023 Disaster Conference – Best Practice Showcase

Shared by the Alameda County Emergency Services Agency, the California Patient Movement Surge Playbook Poster outlines a framework for managing complex patient transfers and hospital capacity challenges during catastrophic events. It identifies gaps in patient movement, coordination priorities, and best practices.

The Playbook promotes using Medical Operations Coordination Cells (MOCC) for real-time awareness, coordinated transfers, and regional resource allocation, with specific strategies for pediatric care, surge expansion, and specialty care integration. It emphasizes strengthening communication, centralizing transfer functions, and deploying specialized EMS resources to address gaps identified in recent crises like COVID-19.