Pandemic Care Through Collaboration: Lessons From a COVID-19 Field Hospital.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Skilled-nursing facilities closed to COVID-19 post-acute admissions during the March-April 2020 surge due to infection control and staffing issues.
• This created a critical need for alternative post-acute care (PAC) solutions for patients recovering from COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation strategy of a 1000-bed COVID-19 field hospital.
• To detail the organization structure, admissions criteria, and clinical services provided.
• To highlight the collaborative efforts essential for establishing and operating the facility.

Main Methods:

• Rapid establishment of a 1000-bed field hospital within 9 days, including 500 PAC beds.
• Partnership with government, military, and local healthcare organizations for logistical and medical support.
• Development of dynamic workflows with clear communication pathways and adaptable staffing.

Main Results:

• The PAC hospital successfully provided care for 394 patients over a 7-week period (April 10 to June 2, 2020).
• The facility addressed the gap in post-acute care capacity caused by the closure of traditional facilities.
• The implementation relied on strong inter-organizational collaboration and operational flexibility.

Conclusions:

• The rapid deployment of the field hospital was essential in managing the surge of COVID-19 patients requiring post-acute care.
• Successful implementation required robust partnerships, clear communication, and adaptable clinical operations.
• This model offers valuable insights for future public health emergency preparedness and response.