Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on ECG’s website.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, hospitals and health systems need to think about ways to temporarily increase physical inpatient capacity so they can care for the projected influx of coronavirus patients while continuing to provide medically necessary care for other patients. According to an article on HealthLeaders Media, most states will run out of ICU beds by mid-April, with the earliest shortages beginning in the next two weeks.
Below are three steps organizations can take to create temporary inpatient capacity and safeguard valuable supplies and equipment.
Postpone elective surgeries and procedures
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has stated that elective surgeries should be curtailed in all sites of service. While some cases can be postponed indefinitely, the vast majority of the cases performed are associated with progressive disease (such has cancer, vascular disease, and organ failure) that will continue to progress at variable, disease-specific rates. ACS provides the following guidance on the management of nonemergent operations: Click here to continue>>
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