Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Md. K. Hasan, S. M. Nasrullah, A. Quattrocchi, P. Arcos Gonzalez, R. Castro-Delgado
Summary: This study aimed to review the preparedness activities and barriers to hospital surge capacity in disasters and emergencies. Thirteen peer-reviewed studies were included, and various strategies in staff, stuff, space, and system domains were identified to enhance hospital surge capacity preparedness. However, several barriers were recognized.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Md Khalid Hasan, Sarker Mohammad Nasrullah, Annalisa Quattrocchi, Pedro Arcos Gonzalez, Rafael Castro Delgado
Summary: Hospitals' medical surge preparedness plays a crucial role in reducing mortality rates and treating severe injuries in disasters and emergencies. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of actions taken to strengthen hospitals' surge capacity, aiding in the development of relevant policies and programs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andra Farcas, Justine Ko, Jennifer Chan, Sanjeev Malik, Lisa Nono, George Chiampas
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense demands on healthcare systems, requiring efficient allocation of resources and effective communication. Implementing an incident command system like FEMA's model can help hospitals better respond to crises by maintaining clear roles, adapting to changing environments, and improving coordination and communication. This approach can be applied to emergency departments nationwide not only during the current pandemic, but also in other disaster situations.
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
(2021)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Nayani Umesha Rajapaksha, Chrishantha Abeysena, Aindralal Balasuriya, Millawage Supun Dilara Wijesinghe, Suranga Manilgama, Yibeltal Assefa Alemu
Summary: This study aimed to assess the disaster preparedness and Incident Command System (ICS) of public healthcare institutions in a disaster-prone district of Sri Lanka. The findings showed that there is a need for improvement in coordination, communication, commanding, management of controlling the incidence, and tracking of cases in response to outbreaks. Capacity development programs should be implemented to enhance preparedness for future disasters.
BMC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Sheuwen Chuang, David D. Woods, Morgan Reynolds, Hsien-Wei Ting, Asher Balkin, Chin-Wang Hsu
Summary: This study conducted in-depth interviews with clinicians from four initial receiving hospitals involved in the FFCDE to analyze patient flow and emergency department workload changes, leading to the development of an ED overload pattern. It was found that solely relying on policies or guidelines did not provide real readiness for medical care incidents, and hospitals could use the study's findings to rethink preparedness planning for future beyond-surge-capacity events.
WORLD JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
SungJoon Park, Joo Jeong, Kyoung Jun Song, Young-Hoon Yoon, Jaehoon Oh, Eui Jung Lee, Ki Jeong Hong, Jae Hee Lee
Summary: This study investigated the surge capacity and disaster preparedness of all regional and local emergency medical centers in Seoul, finding that these centers can accommodate a specific number of emergency and non-emergency patients in crisis conditions. The study also found significant differences in surge capacity between ordinary and crisis conditions, with only the total number of hospital beds being significantly associated with surge capacity in both scenarios.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Marie Lourdes Charles, Gretha Fievre
Summary: The program aimed to educate community leaders on training community members to respond to disasters. Through workshops covering emergency preparedness, water-borne diseases, and post-traumatic stress, the program successfully enhanced the disaster response capacity of the community residents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Randy D. Kearns, Carl A. Flores, Frances Arledge, Paige Hargrove, Rosanne Prats, Joseph Kanter, Kevin Sittig, Joey Barrios, Herb A. Phelan, Jeffrey E. Carter
Summary: Disaster preparedness for a burn mass casualty incident (BMCI) requires considering the needs of first responders and community hospitals. The development of a comprehensive statewide burn disaster program involves meeting with regional healthcare coalitions (HCCs) to identify gaps in care. Feedback from focus groups helped address deficiencies such as the lack of burn-specific wound care dressings and the need for supply caches that can be quickly mobilized and deployed to impacted areas.
JOURNAL OF BURN CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
P. Phattharapornjaroen, E. Carlstrom, O. Sivarak, P. Tansuwannarat, P. Chalermdamrichai, Y. Sittichanbuncha, L. Kongtoranin, R. Phattranonuthai, P. Marlow, W. Winyuchonjaroen, N. Pongpasupa, A. Khorram-Manesh
Summary: Establishing home isolation centers in Bangkok, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic can alleviate the burden on hospitals. The use of community resources based on the flexible surge capacity concept is feasible under restricted circumstances.
Article
Health Policy & Services
Josette Hartnett, Kaly D. Houston, Suzanne J. Rose
Summary: This article discusses the challenges faced by Stamford Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and explains the development of the SH COVID-19 Playbook as a long-term solution for future pandemic surges.
JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Alan D. Kaye, Elyse M. Cornett, Anusha Kallurkar, Matthew M. Colontonio, Debbie Chandler, Chizoba Mosieri, Kimberley C. Brondeel, Sathyadev Kikkeri, Amber Edinoff, Mary Jo Fitz-Gerald, G. E. Ghali, Jack W. Gamble, Henry Liu, Richard D. Urman, Charles J. Fox
Summary: HICS is a specialized incident management system for hospitals, playing a crucial role in disaster response. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a HICS to effectively respond to unprecedented challenges in the healthcare system.
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH-CLINICAL ANAESTHESIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jennifer Jewer
Summary: The implementation of a surge management system in the emergency department was successful in reducing crowding and improving wait times. By applying work system theory, the implementation team was able to integrate the system into the workflow and address areas of misalignment. The study highlights the importance of a holistic approach in guiding eHealth system implementations.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
M. Catherine Burgess, Debbie DeLorenzo, Carl Eriksson
Summary: The study aimed to quantify immediate bed availability in a US children's hospital and analyze treatment needs that could be met outside a traditional hospital setting. The results showed a median IBA of 42%, exceeding federal recommendations, but varying widely between days surveyed. Some patients had treatment needs that could be met in a nontraditional setting, but even on days with high IBA percentage, the total number of available beds may not meet pediatric population needs in a large-scale public health emergency.
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Feng Kong
Summary: The article discusses the characteristics of power and responsibility allocation between the Party and the government, as well as between departments in China's NECS, analyzing their development, changes, and unchanged characteristics based on the prevention and control of SARS and COVID-19. It found that the Party's leadership style has shifted from indirect to direct, and the joint defense and control mechanism has replaced the national headquarters of emergency management as the common mode.
Article
Emergency Medicine
Erasmo Roberto Campanale, Margherita Maragno, Gaetano Annese, Angela Cafarelli, Rosario Coretti, Josepmaria Argemi, Maria Teresa Cibelli, Riccardo Sannicandro, Carl Montan, Roberto Faccincani
Summary: MCI incidents can occur during MGEs, necessitating preparedness and training of healthcare systems. In Italy, the PEMAF plan has been mandatory since the 1990s but is often poorly known by staff. Education and training programs can improve staff awareness and capacity for managing emergencies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SURGERY
(2022)