Challenges faced in establishing a dedicated 250 bed COVID-19 intensive care unit in a temporary structure

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Intensive Care Units (ICUs) provide specialized care for critically ill patients but require extensive planning and resources.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid expansion of critical care capacity globally.
• Temporary structures were often employed to meet the surge in demand for ICU beds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the challenges and lessons learned in establishing a large-scale ICU in a temporary setting.
• To highlight the feasibility of rapid ICU deployment during public health emergencies.

Main Methods:

• This narrative review details the establishment of a 250-bedded ICU in a temporary structure.
• Focuses on the process of achieving functionality within a two-week timeframe.

Main Results:

• Successfully established a 250-bed ICU in a temporary structure within 14 days.
• Identified key challenges in man and material management, design, budget, and protocolization.
• Demonstrated the possibility of rapid critical care capacity building.

Conclusions:

• Rapid establishment of ICUs in temporary structures is achievable even with significant logistical challenges.
• Lessons learned can inform future crisis response and critical care infrastructure development.
• Effective planning and management are crucial for timely operationalization of emergency ICUs.