Post on 31-Mar-2015
HOSPITAL SURGE CAPACITY: A
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF EMS REGION
2 SURGE CAPACITY
James E.M. Bender, BS, EMT-P
Qualitative Study EMS Region 2 of Illinois What is surge capacity? Are there any standards of surge capacity
(met?) Barriers and Best Practices
My Story
What is Surge Capacity?
Surge Capacity is the ability of a hospital to expand its capacity to add additional beds, beyond the hospital’s State licensed beds during a declared emergency.
Hospitals have to make the decision to go from a standard of care to a sufficiency of care.
Identified Surge Capacity Prime Mover is the JC standards and
ASPR (HRSA) grants.Reference (2003 Bioterror grants) 500 acute
beds per million population Region has:
3731 Licensed Patient Care Beds876 Surge Capacity Beds100 Surge Beds from Mobile Hospital
Hospital Policy Addresses surge capacity through non-
traditional patient care areas and non-traditional beds.No standard of “what is a surge bed / acuity
of patient”.
Public expects healthcare response during a disaster!
Barrier: Policy and Regulation Expect Surge Capacity
Joint CommissionIDPH “approved” Regional Disaster Medical
PlanGrants
Barrier: Policy and Regulation Illinois Hospital Act The Emergency Medical Treatment And
Labor Act (EMTALA)…Remember to get your 1135 waiver
HIPPA Illinois Emergency Management Act
What is a Public Health Emergency?Gov. suspend acts for 30 days
Does not address emergency opening of hospitals.
Conclusion
Hospitals have made great strides in EM in the last 10 years.
Willing and wanting to be a first responderGet very little support from regulatory
authorities. There are best practices:
California has implemented an entire program on surge and alternative care sites.
Thank You
Research paper at:http://cemr-network.org/Comprehensive
Emergency
Management
Research
Network