Critical Care And Emergency Department Response At The Epicenter Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Critical Care Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• New York City became the global epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• NYC Health + Hospitals serves a vulnerable patient population disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
• The health system's response was critical due to the pandemic's impact on the city.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the expansion of critical care capacity by NYC Health + Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To outline the strategies implemented to manage an unprecedented surge in critical care demand.
• To share lessons learned for other health systems facing similar public health crises.

Main Methods:

• Identifying and upgrading existing intensive care unit (ICU) spaces.
• Creating new ICU spaces in emergency departments and other inpatient units.
• Reallocating patients between hospitals, supplementing critical care staffing, and closely monitoring supplies.

Main Results:

• Significant expansion of critical care capacity within NYC Health + Hospitals.
• Successful management of a surge in COVID-19 cases requiring intensive care.
• Implementation of an emergency department action team to integrate frontline provider experiences into network-level decisions.

Conclusions:

• NYC Health + Hospitals successfully scaled critical care services to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The implemented strategies and lessons learned can inform preparedness for future health system surges.
• Adaptability and rapid expansion of critical care resources are vital during public health emergencies.