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Surging critical care capacity for COVID-19: Key now and in the future
#MMPMID34173451
Rodriguez-Llanes JM
; Castro Delgado R
; Pedersen MG
; Meneghini M
; Arcos González P
Prog Disaster Sci
2020[Dec]; 8
(?): 100136
PMID34173451
show ga
The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked health systems worldwide, with visible impacts
on intensive care units and emergency departments. The concept of "surge
capacity" should be analyzed within this context as this crisis could be seen as
an opportunity to improve the knowledge base of intensive care units and
emergency departments. We reflected, based on our experience from work at the
frontlines, on health service planning and with epidemiological data, about the
importance of surging critical care capacity for COVID, now and as lessons for
the future. We summarize and relate virus clinical characteristics,
epidemiological patterns and critical care surge capacity as important factors to
consider for effective health systems response. Some practical aspects are
described, but also the role that mathematical models can play to improve
intensive care units surge capacity by considering its importance as a predictor
of needs according to epidemiological patterns. Also, in the transitional phase,
we consider the importance of coexisting COVID-19 and non-covid-19 health care
services, and the importance of a new surge capacity for postponed activities. In
this new transitional phase, also emergency departments will have to adapt their
surge capacity for a rebound effect due to delayed visits from non-COVID-19
health conditions during the pandemic. Health systems and society must remain
vigilant for potential resurgence of cases as measures are relaxed to restart the
economy and a new normal. Emergency departments and intensive care units have to
develop surge strategies to deal together with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 flow of
patients.