Too Many Patients…A Framework to Guide Statewide Allocation of Scarce Mechanical Ventilation During Disasters

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Disaster Medicine
• Bioethics

Background:

• Catastrophic public health emergencies necessitate robust preparedness.
• Modeling indicates potential shortfalls in critical care resources, such as mechanical ventilators, during severe events like influenza pandemics.
• Existing recommendations for resource allocation exist, but public perspectives are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a critical care disaster resource allocation framework.
• To provide guidance for hospitals and public health agencies during declared emergencies.
• To incorporate public perspectives into disaster resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• A statewide community engagement process was used to develop the framework.
• The framework utilizes a scoring system with modifications for specific considerations.
• It is designed for situations where mechanical ventilator demand exceeds surge capacity.

Main Results:

• A critical care disaster resource allocation framework was developed.
• The framework aims to assist in the coordinated response to catastrophic health emergencies.
• It facilitates legal review of existing laws and liability protections.

Conclusions:

• Community engagement is vital for developing ethically sound disaster resource allocation strategies.
• The developed framework offers a structured approach to managing scarce critical care resources.
• The framework supports preparedness and response efforts for large-scale public health emergencies.