What are the most effective ways to manage healthcare facilities during a crisis?

Command and control are the keys to managing any environment during a crisis situation. Healthcare facilities have for the longest time downplayed the need to a single point of command. Covid forced the hand of many facilities but there is still a long way to go. Implementing an Incident Command System (ICS) in healthcare is slowly becoming more common. It is the basic principle under which fire departments and law enforcement have been operating under for decades. A properly structured, rehearsed and activated ICS will ensure that the right people are in the right place at the right time. In a crisis situation, it is always about communications and managing compromise, as compromise is aways the primary driver of such an event.

Once an ICS plan has been established, rehearsed and implemented, it's time to share the experience and model with community partners. Community healthcare delivery is layered like an onion. During a crisis we often look at only the outer layers of first responders and hospitals without considering the impact on secondary partners such as Specialty service providers (dialysis, pediatrics, urgent care, Medical Examiners, funeral directors, etc.) and Support service providers (laboratories, pharmacies, blood banks, poison control, etc.).

Mass Casualty drills must be done on a regular basis. Activation and deployment of key community components must be almost muscle memory, and MODIFIED as needed when community dynamics shift or change. The best plan in the world serves no purpose when it spends it's life in a 3 ring binder on someone's shelf. In Central Florida we drill annually with dozens of first responder agencies, over 1,000 volunteer victims and dozens of healthcare providers. Drills are evaluated and modified based on real-world feedback, not just table top theory. Individual facilities should conduct in-house drills on at least a quarterly basis to ensure all shifts and personnel are aware of their roll in reducing the risks and compromises of a real crisis.

Healthcare crisis always comes unannounced. However, preparation can help manage it in an effective manner. ➡️ Clear and transparent communications ➡️ Flexibility in healthcare provider’s operations to respond swiftly to changing circumstances. ➡️ Fostering collaboration among healthcare facilities, government agencies, and community organizations. ➡️ Implement technology for efficient data management, telehealth, and communication. ➡️ Educate the public on preventive measures and available healthcare services.