Assignment

Group Presentation:

SITUATION: newly appointed CEO of Cremona Hospital in Northern Italy during the peak of the pandemic. Tasked with outlining a way forward through the turmoil that is currently engulfing your facility. Consider what steps need to be taken within assigned realms of logistics and strategic support

BACKGROUND: Cremona Hospital overwhelmed by a rapid increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 induced pneumonia.​

· 500-bed facility ​

In the first 8 weeks into the pandemic:​

· 1706 patients evaluated in the emergency room​

· 1542 admissions​

· 242 intubations​

· 419 underwent non-invasive ventilation​

· 342 died​

Medical care required for many severely ill patients with limited resources and overworked healthcare employees.

ASSESSMENT: Within the midst of the pandemic the logistics during this was chaos. The purpose of the environment of care is to provide safety for all persons in the HCO, provide the physical environment required for the mission, including all buildings equipment, and supplies, plan for contingencies and implement guest services at satisfactory levels of the economy, attractiveness, and convenience (reference book). A plan for emergency and disaster response is a planned and systematic response to community disasters where large numbers of patients must be treated for trauma and stress (reference book). The management of disaster events addresses four phases mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery (reference book).

Problems within the midst of the pandemic with logistics and strategic support (not in order of relevance):

1. Communication with other community agencies, is essential ad normal channels are often overwhelmed

2. Triage

3. High stressed staff medical staff with lack of support

4. Low number of ventilators, beds, and space for adequate triage and isolation

RECOMMENDATION:

Review opportunities for improvement and make corrections to plans for emergency and disaster response. Implement provisions for relief and rehabilitation for associates that are negatively affected during emergency and disaster events.

Emergency management requirements: (reference book)

1. Emergency preparedness: plan, training, utilities and communications management, drills with formal evaluation, annual review and approval by senior leadership. Evaluations of all disasters occurrences, collaboration with community response partners.

2. Life-safety and fire protection: evacuation plans and routes, routine inspection, life safety training and drills.

The design of the plan is a major project that requires the coordinated efforts of virtually all HCO leadership, elements include: (reference book)

1. Rapid assembly of clinical and other personnel

2. Inclusion of HCO leaders

3. Reassignment of tasks, space, equipment

4. Establishment of supplementary telephone ad radio communication

5. Triage of arrived patients

6. Temporary shelter for the homeless

7. Continued care of patients already in the hospital

8. Housing and food for hospital associates

9. Provision of information to the media, volunteers, and families