Utilization of Alternate Care Sites During the COVID-19 Surge and Mass Care: California, 2020–2021

Christensen, Kate; Metzner, Mitch; Lovett-Floom, LeAnne; Lindsay, Carol; Meghoo, Colin A.; Staats, Kathy; Noste, Erin; Backer, Howard

doi:10.1017/dmp.2022.93

Cited by 6 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This could contribute to expanding in-hospital surge capacity as the discharge of patients to these facilities is safer, even more so when these facilities are built as temporary structures close to hospitals or on the same premises. 28,29 During the COVID-19 pandemic, this strategy was successfully implemented to create surge capacity in overwhelmed hospitals. 30,31 Limitations Firstly, the data search did not cover gray literature, hence anecdotal experiences and reports might have been missed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary Health Care and Disasters: Applying a “Whole-of-Health System” Approach through Reverse Triage in Mass-Casualty Management

Alesi,

Bortolin,

Ragazzoni

et al. 2023

Prehosp. Disaster med.

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Introduction: In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) framework detailing how effective management of disasters, including mass-casualty incidents (MCIs), can be achieved through a whole-of-health system approach where each level of the health care system is involved in all phases of the disaster cycle. In light of this, a primary health care (PHC) approach can contribute to reducing negative health outcomes of disasters, since it encompasses the critical roles that primary care services can play during crises. Hospitals can divert non-severe MCI victims to primary care services by applying reverse triage (RT), thereby preventing hospital overloading and ensuring continuity of care for those who do not require hospital services during the incident. Study Objective: This study explores the topic by reviewing the literature published on early discharge of MCI victims through RT criteria and existing referral pathways to primary care services. Methods: A scoping literature review was performed and a total of ten studies were analyzed. Results: The results showed that integrating primary care facilities into disaster management (DM) through the use of RT may be an effective strategy to create surge during MCIs, provided that clear referral protocols exist between hospitals and primary care services to ensure continuity of care. Furthermore, adequate training should be provided to primary care professionals to be prepared and be able to provide quality care to MCI victims. Conclusion: The results of this current review can serve as groundwork upon which to design further research studies or to help devise strategies and policies for the integration of PHC in MCI management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary Health Care and Disasters: Applying a “Whole-of-Health System” Approach through Reverse Triage in Mass-Casualty Management

Alesi,

Bortolin,

Ragazzoni

et al. 2023

Prehosp. Disaster med.

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“…Christensen et al described details of the ACS operations and challenges encountered. 16 ACSs drove further development of CAL-MAT due to the requirements of in-patient operations. ACS facilities operated 24 hours a day and were staffed by teams of physicians, advanced practice providers, RNs, paramedics, and EMTs.…”

Section: Alternative Care Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Expansion and Adaptability of California Medical Disaster Teams

Rymer

Breyre²,

Lovett-Floom³

et al. 2023

Disaster med. public health prep.

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The California Medical Assistance Team (CAL-MAT) program is coordinated by the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). The program was developed to deploy and support medical personnel for disaster medical response. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the program and missions grew rapidly in response to medical surge, programs for testing and vaccination, and other concurrent disasters. CAL-MAT enrollment increased 10-fold from approximately 200 members at the beginning of 2020, to an estimated 2200 members by June 2021. This article describes the flexible use of a state-managed disaster medical response program within California and some of the challenges associated with rapid expansion and varied demands during the COVID-19 surges of March 2020–March 2022. CAL-MAT may serve as a model for development of similar state-sponsored or other disaster medical response teams.

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“…An ACS is a method of developing HSC in which inpatient or outpatient services are moved to an alternate built environment location. This typically happens when (1) the existing healthcare system is overburdened with an immediate hazardous condition (e.g., flooding, earthquake, hurricane) or (2) patient care volumes exceed facility capacity due to emerging disease cases (e.g., outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic) [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The healthcare system essentially needs to establish a field hospital for healthcare operations in non-healthcare settings (e.g., arenas, convention centers, schools, hotels, or other) for emergency or disaster conditions [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Efficacy of a COVID-19 Alternative Care Site Preparedness Assessment Tool for Catastrophic Healthcare Surge Capacity during Pandemic Response

2023

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing catastrophic healthcare surge capacity required a network of facility infrastructure beyond the immediate hospital to triage the rapidly growing numbers of infected individuals and treat emerging disease cases. Providing regional continuity-of-care requires an assessment of buildings for alternative care sites (ACS) to extend healthcare operations into non-healthcare settings. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) appointed a COVID-19 ACS Task Force involving architects, engineers, public health, and healthcare professionals to conduct a charrette (i.e., intensive workshop) to establish guidance during the alert phase of the pandemic. The task force developed an ACS Preparedness Assessment Tool (PAT) for healthcare teams to assist with their rapid evaluation of building sites for establishing healthcare operations in non-healthcare settings. The tool was quickly updated (V2.0) and then translated into multiple languages. Subsequently, the authors of this manuscript reviewed the efficacy of the PAT V2.0 in the context of reported case studies from healthcare teams who developed a COVID-19 ACS in community settings. In summary, policy makers should re-examine the role of the built environment during emergency pandemic response and its impact on patients and health professionals. An updated ACS PAT tool should be established as part of the public health preparedness for implementing catastrophic healthcare surge capacity.

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Utilization of Alternate Care Sites During the COVID-19 Surge and Mass Care: California, 2020–2021

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Primary Health Care and Disasters: Applying a “Whole-of-Health System” Approach through Reverse Triage in Mass-Casualty Management

Primary Health Care and Disasters: Applying a “Whole-of-Health System” Approach through Reverse Triage in Mass-Casualty Management

Rapid Expansion and Adaptability of California Medical Disaster Teams

Evaluating Efficacy of a COVID-19 Alternative Care Site Preparedness Assessment Tool for Catastrophic Healthcare Surge Capacity during Pandemic Response

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