A Western Massachusetts hospital system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2021.0382Keywords:
COVID-19, critical care surge, disaster medicine, pandemicAbstract
Objective: The objective of this paper was to outline a novel model created for the management of the critical care surge due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Western Massachusetts hospital.
Setting: This model was created and implemented at a Western Massachusetts Level 1 Trauma and tertiary referral center.
Conclusions: This article outlines a model devised by an interdisciplinary team for rapid expansion of critical care services by increasing allocated space, staffing, and supplies via modifications of existing systems of care to accommodate a predicted large critical care patient surge due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We predict that this model can be utilized and adapted for future critical care surges in times of similar pandemic situations.
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