Abstract
The healthcare systems in China and globally have faced serious challenges during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The shortage of beds in traditional hospitals has exacerbated the threat of COVID-19. To increase the number of available beds, China implemented a special public health measure of opening mobile cabin hospitals. Mobile cabin hospitals, also called Fangcang shelter hospitals, refer to large-scale public venues such as indoor stadiums and exhibition centers converted to temporary hospitals. This study is a mini review of the practice of mobile cabin hospitals in China. The first part is regarding emergency preparedness, including site selection, conversion, layout, and zoning before opening the hospital, and the second is on hospital management, including organization management, management of nosocomial infections, information technology support, and material supply. This review provides some practical recommendations for countries that need mobile cabin hospitals to relieve the pressure of the pandemic on the healthcare systems.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a health catastrophe, and healthcare systems worldwide have been overwhelmed by the new surge of infections [1]
This article aims to review China’s experience in operating mobile cabin hospitals to provide a reference for other countries that can utilize mobile cabin hospitals to relieve the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems
Adaptability, convertibility, and expandability strategies should be included in the architectural design and construction planning of largescale public buildings to allow for venues such as urban stadiums and exhibition centers to be converted into hospitals rapidly during major public health emergencies [25]
Summary
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a health catastrophe, and healthcare systems worldwide have been overwhelmed by the new surge of infections [1]. Called Fangcang shelter hospital, is a type of modular health equipment providing multiple functions, such as isolation, triage, basic medical care, frequent monitoring, rapid referral, and essential living needs [4]. To ensure early isolation and treatment of mild and moderate cases, the Chinese government designed and built mobile cabin hospitals [10]. Mobile cabin hospitals provided a large number of beds for mild and moderate COVID-19 cases, excluding the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions. This changed the family-based quarantine approach into group isolation of mild cases, obviating within-household and community transmissions [11,12,13]
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