For Planning, Response and Recovery. 360 Degrees of Awareness. By: Carl Taylor. The ability of a healthcare system to rapidly expand beyond normal services to meet sudden or sustained increased demand for medical care. What is Surge Capacity?. Why plan for Surge?.
to meet sudden or sustained increased demand for medical care.What is Surge Capacity?
The U.S. healthcare system, overall, is woefully unprepared to effectively handle large numbers of casualties caused by man made or natural disasters such as hurricanes or infectious disease outbreaks, and because IT happens.
The ability to evaluate and care for a markedly increased volume of patients - one that challenges or exceeds normal operating capacity.
The ability to manage patients requiring unusual or very specialized medical evaluation and care, e.g., infectious disease or burn patients.Surge Capacity vs. Capability
Your other patients have needs also
The usual scope of practice may not apply
External events will impact internal responsePlanning For A Surge
Whatever you are doing for exercises JC notwithstanding you are inadequately prepared.
For all of the plans the real issue is do you have situational awareness and can you see around corners?What Information, Tools and Resources Are Available
Alabama Incident Management System (AIMS)
AIMS Training Website