Surge Capacity Toolkit

for Hospitals
William Lang
Administrative Consultant
Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness
Program, NYC DOHMH

Contact Information:
Tel. 914-262-5675
Email: wlangconsult@yahoo.com

NYC DOHMH
2007 Core Deliverables C.1 & C.2
Submit a site-specific plan for increasing bed capacity
Hospitals will be asked to:
1)

Incorporate surge capacity tools and templates provided by

DOHMH BHPP.

2)

Review and incorporate previously prepared protocols,

lessons learned from after action reports, and results of
hospital assessments into their plan.

3)

Participate in a BHPP-sponsored workshop (also known as

Surge Clinics).

4)

Submit Plans to DOHMH.

Tool Development Objectives

Flexible/adaptable to the needs of

participating hospitals

Include recommendations and best practices

from Surge Clinics

Consistent formatting

Easily understood

Easy to use

Hospital Surge Categories

Surge Beds Related Activities

Surge Beds Groups of Activities

Surge Bed Yielding Activities

UCSD Discharge Study, 2005

To determine how many acute care beds
could be made available in the event of a
mass casualty incident.
4

Hospitals
1741 Assessments
788 Patients
82 Nurse Manager
25 Physicians
Hospital Bed Surge Capacity in the Event of a Mass-Casualty Incident; Davis, Poste, Hicks, Polk, Rhymer, Jacoby; May-June 2005; Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.

UCSD Discharge Study, 2005

Findings

33% of the patients were assessed as dischargeable

at 24 hours; 50% at 72 hours.

Conclusion

Rapid discharge will be an efficient early intervention

to increase bed capacity,

Hospital Bed Surge Capacity in the Event of a Mass-Casualty Incident; Davis, Poste, Hicks, Polk, Rhymer, Jacoby; May-June 2005; Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.

Toolkit Features & Benefits

Provides activity definitions, descriptions,

outcomes, team members, estimated time to
implement, and bed yield potential.

Lessens reliance on off-the-cuff solutions.

Assures all appropriate actions are engaged.

Encourages planning involvement of subject matter

experts.

Toolkit Features & Benefits \ Cont

Helps to assure regulatory compliance with

discharge practices.

Tools can be used by subject matter experts and

non-experts alike.

Can be used in tight bedding situations - not just in

emergencies.

Decreases length of stay!

Tool Development Timeline

(2006)

Nov 06: GNYHA

Nov 16: DOHMH forms Surge Capacity Workgroup
Nov 30: DOHMH Materials distributed to Hospitals
(Rapid Discharge Tool, Beds Planning
Committee guidance document)
Nov-Dec: Hospitals form Beds Planning Committees

Tool Development Timeline

(2007)

Jan 17: DOHMH Materials distributed to Hospitals

(Capacity Expansion tools)
Jan: Hospitals begin work on Draft Surge Plans.
Feb: Hospitals attend Surge Clinics (one-day),
sponsored by DOHMH
Mar: Hospitals submit Draft Plans to DOHMH

Where to Begin?

Begin to assess current discharge practices in your

own institutions by asking:

Who are the key individuals involved in the discharge

process?
Do you have unit-based discharge teams?
Do you have length-of-stay teams?
Do you have an Intend to Discharge Form?
If so, how is it used?
Do you have policies and procedures governing patient
discharge?

Summary & Conclusion

FY 2006 Core Deliverables C.1 & C.2 - submit plans for

increasing bed capacity.
DOHMH provides rapid discharge and capacity
expansion tools and templates.
Hospitals review and submit to DOHMH materials
comprising practices related to bed surge capacity.
Hospitals participate in Surge Clinics to adapt best
practices and recommendations to their own plans.
Hospitals submit Draft & Final plans to the DOHMH.

William Lang
Administrative Consultant
Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness
Program, NYC DOHMH
Contact Information:
Tel. 914-262-5675
Email: wlangconsult@yahoo.com