Abstract
This case study describes the process of selecting the most appropriate state-wide hospital system to manage COVID-19 cases in a setting of low community transmission of COVID-19 infection. A rapid review of the literature was conducted of the advantages and disadvantages of having designated COVID hospitals. This led to three different options being presented for discussion. Following consultation, the option chosen was for all hospital facilities to remain prepared to care for COVID-19 patients where they present rather than having specified designated hospitals because this was considered the most practical option currently.
Highlights
There has been a significant increase in hospital capacity to manage the predicted increase in demand due to COVID-19
In April 2020, the World Health Organization recommended that health systems prepare and activate designated COVID-19 hospitals in response to various stages of community transmission.[6]
The advantage of having all hospitals receiving COVID-19 patients meant that all hospitals are prepared to care for COVID-19 patients and constantly practice infection control protocols
Summary
There has been a significant increase in hospital capacity to manage the predicted increase in demand due to COVID-19. This has included the rapid building or converting of non-health buildings into temporary health facilities dedicated to managing COVID-19 patients.[1,2,3] This increase was primarily in health systems expecting, approaching or already exhausting existing health care capacity, such as in China, South Korea and Italy.[2,4,5]. Where community transmission has been high (e.g. England, Italy and South Korea) all healthcare facilities were strongly advised to prepare to care for COVID-19 patients by April 2020.4,8,9 The transfer of infectious patients presents many Many health systems adopted a model of having a designated COVID-19 hospital, with contingency plans in place to redeploy medical staff from other areas[4] and stream nonCOVID-19 patients to other hospitals to manage increases in COVID-19 activity.[7]
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