While the COVID-19 outbreak is straining healthcare systems across the globe, it also is serving as an important reminder to re-focus on the critical work of emergency preparedness.
Whether it’s a natural disaster, terrorist attack or an infectious disease outbreak, large-scale events inevitably impact hospitals. Our role in the supply chain has allowed us to watch how many healthcare organizations have prepared for a variety of emergencies over the years and the surge in demand for care that follows.
Here, we share three best practices we’ve gathered from our own experience and from health system supply chain experts.
1. Have a plan and update it regularly
A 2017 Medical Group Management Association poll found that nearly 20% of health system professionals said they did not have an emergency preparedness plan in place.1 Considering the number of high-profile emergency events in recent years, having a preparedness plan is essential for hospitals to maintain operations and serve as many patients as possible.
Although preparedness plans will look different for each health system, one key consideration is the storage needed for additional medical supplies, especially the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required in a pandemic situation. For example, 90 days of PPE inventory for a stand-alone 350 bed hospital would roughly be 260 pallets and take up 3,500 sq. ft. of warehouse space. Learn more about addressing your pandemic preparedness storage needs in this infographic.
And plans shouldn’t just be created and put on the shelf. Experts say health systems should consider holding monthly emergency preparedness team meetings with those responsible for organizing and executing responses during storms or other emergency events. For example, leaders from one health system shared in our digital publication, Cardinal Health Essential Insights, that they hold an annual live emergency drill mimicking a real catastrophic event, from a plane crash to a storm to a pandemic.2
2. Make collaboration a habit
A detailed disaster preparedness plan can take months to finalize and implement, and having a unified, educated staff is vital to it being used successfully. For example, in one Texas hospital, the bonds that staff developed via regular disaster preparedness drills were key in keeping patients safe and supported during Hurricane Harvey.3 Staffing plans may look different for natural disasters, pandemics, and other crises, but each plan is equally important and, if possible, should be discussed prior to an emergency.
In a pandemic, the Center for Health Security suggests that staff be involved in a comprehensive and realistic planning process that emphasizes limiting the hospital spread of viruses and restricting the number of staff exposed to infected patients. This can be done through practices like proper PPE usage training and cohorting staff into dedicated units. Regular education and training drills on infection control precautions can help prepare your staff to act quickly and efficiently in times of need, like an influenza outbreak.4 In the event of shortages, work closely with your distributors and public health partners to identify alternative solutions and then afterward, plan for preventing future shortages.
For natural disasters, experts say organizations should be prepared to provide radios to emergency preparedness personnel so constant contact isn’t lost. Staff should also keep their ID badges on them at all times—both in and out of the hospital. With roads often closed and access restricted to the general public during emergencies, emergency and medical workers with identification can bypass roadblocks and other restrictions in order to get to work.2
If the disaster is something like a storm that meteorologists can predict ahead of time, plan to activate pre-established emergency contracts with your vendors so locations are stocked with appropriate supplies at least 72 hours after a storm arrives and are ready to be restocked as soon as the storm passes.2
3. Be a perpetual student
While each health system – or even each hospital – may require a unique approach to addressing its emergency preparedness needs, experts emphasized that the willingness to learn from mistakes and from others – and to make adjustments on the fly – are key to getting patients, staff, and the community safely through an emergency. Though it is possible to predict many emergencies, the specifics of how they will manifest can unfold differently each time – and each circumstance provides experience to learn from and help ensure healthcare providers and others can react more quickly and confidently in the future.
Lessons are still emerging from the COVID-19 outbreak, especially as it is ongoing. But one thing we are learning already in the healthcare industry is the need for increased sourcing strategies, more visibility across the supply chain, and better coordination between manufacturers, distributors and healthcare facilities.
For more supply chain insights and to access an infographic on key elements for pandemic preparedness storage planning, visit the Cardinal Health Supply Chain Center.
1 https://www.mgma.com/data/data-stories/many-health-leaders-report-they-have-an-emergency
2https://www.cardinalhealth.com/en/essential-insights/best-practices-learned-from-hurricane-irma.html
3 https://qz.com/1066787/hurricane-harvey-how-houston-hospitals-handled-the-storm/
4 https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/how-hospitals-can-prepare-for-an-influenza-pandemic/440696/