Safety assessment for temporary hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A simulation approach

Amid the devastating effects caused by the pandemic of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), health leaders around the world are adding efforts to search efficient and effective responses in the fight against the disease. Conventional health centers, such as hospitals and emergency departments have been registering an increase in demand and atypical patterns due to the high transmissibility of the virus. In this context, the adoption of Temporary Hospitals (THs) is effective in trying to relieve conventional hospitals and direct efforts in the treatment of suspected and positive patients for COVID-19. However, some requirements should be considered regarding the processes performed by THs to maintain the health and safety of patients and staff. Based on the literature, we evaluated aspects related to patient safety in THs, especially linked to biosafety of medical facilities, and patient transport and visit. We highlight the analysis of flows and layouts, hospital cleaning and patient care. We described two case studies to demonstrate the proposed approach. As result, simulation tests improved safety metrics, such as waiting time for procedures, movement intensity in each area, length of stay and TH capacity. We conclude that the approach allows us to provide better THs that prevent cross-contamination, provide suitable care, and meet the demand.