Approach to hospital preparedness for acute surge events due to emerging infectious diseases

In the research and operations niche of hospital capacity strain and preparedness, although surges have historically been defined according to an unexpected large number of patients (eg, a mass casualty event), many have argued for a more nuanced definition that also includes any number of patients with high acuity (or higher acuity than the norm for the treating location) or with unique care needs (such as enhanced personal protective equipment or specialized personnel), or any isolated or simultaneous loss of resources (such as during a natural disaster), and any combination of these, locally or regionally. A recent JAMA Research Letter provided an elegant regional example of why such a nuanced view is necessary.

George L Anesi