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