globally, there were over 1.3 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and 55 000 cases in the United Kingdom (WHO). 1 The Covid-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge faced by the National Health Service (NHS) to date. Recent data from the United Kingdom-based Intensive Care and National Audit Research centre (ICNARC) database 2 suggests patient mortality rates are almost double those of common viral pneumonia seen in intensive care unit (ICU) patients (50.1% vs 22.4%). In ventilated patients, ICU mortality is even higher (67%), 2 but interpretation should be cautious until further outcomes of this population become known. Severity of respiratory failure and high contagion index of SARS-Cov-2 has caused unprecedented patient numbers needing a high-dependency unit (HDU) or ICU. 3 In response, NHS ICUs have nationally increased bed capacity, 4 utilized staffing models not seen before, 5 and changed medical strategies.
Previous pandemic preparedness models have highlighted "fourSs" that include: space (beds), staff (clinicians and operations), stuff (physical equipment), and system (co-ordination). 6 The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) human factors model potentially offers a more comprehensive framework by focusing on health care structures, relationships, and processes. 7 It consists of five key domains: person, task, tools and technology, environment, and organization. The SEIPS model 7 may facilitate a pragmatic approach in provisioning for pandemic preparedness, incorporating additional elements of task, tools, and technology. The systematic framework of this model provides the opportunity and means to examine the Covid-19 pandemic while utilizing real-time experiences from the frontline. How to cite this article: Lumley C , Ellis A , Ritchings S , Venes T , Ede J . Using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model to describe critical care nursing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (2020).
