Chapter 3. Coordination and collaboration with interface units. Recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.

PURPOSE: To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on enhancing coordination and collaboration between the ICU and other key stakeholders. METHODS: Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including coordination and collaboration. RESULTS: Key recommendations include: (1) establish an Incident Management System with Emergency Executive Control Groups at facility, local, regional/state or national levels to exercise authority and direction over resource use and communications; (2) develop a system of communication, coordination and collaboration between the ICU and key interface departments within the hospital; (3) identify key functions or processes requiring coordination and collaboration, the most important of these being manpower and resources utilization (surge capacity) and re-allocation of personnel, equipment and physical space; (4) develop processes to allow smooth inter-departmental patient transfers; (5) creating systems and guidelines is not sufficient, it is important to: (a) identify the roles and responsibilities of key individuals necessary for the implementation of the guidelines; (b) ensure that these individuals are adequately trained and prepared to perform their roles; (c) ensure adequate equipment to allow key coordination and collaboration activities; (d) ensure an adequate physical environment to allow staff to properly implement guidelines; (6) trigger events for determining a crisis should be defined. CONCLUSIONS: Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for coordination and collaboration with interface units are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic.

Recommendations for nursing requirements at a field hospital, based on the Israel Defense Forces field hospital at the earthquake disaster in Turkey--August 1999.

On the 17th of August 1999, an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale struck the Marmara region in Turkey causing a massive casualties event with an estimated 2,680 deaths and 5,300 injuries just at the city of Adapazari alone. A field hospital was set up by the Israel Defense Forces at Adapazari in order to provide temporary medical services until regular medical forces recovered. The aim of the paper is to overview the requirements of the nursing staff at a field hospital based on our experience and analysis of the nursing activity at the field hospital at Adapazari. The methods implemented include interviewing all nurses and many of the doctors who took part in the field hospital as well as a review of medical literature about disasters. We found an inverted nurse:phycisian ratio of 1:1.77, as opposed to a 2.5-3:1 ratio in regular civilian hospitals. The nurses in our field hospital had to work longer and more intensive shifts than in a regular hospital. They had to overcome language barriers and cultural differences, and faced difficult hygiene conditions. Our overview analysis of results brought up several recommendations. Firstly, although it is not possible to predictthe number and types of casualties, it is necessary to provide an adequate number of nurses (1-1.5:1 nurse:physician ratio). Furthermore, the nurses should be specialized and rotated as needed. Secondly, the language and cultural barriers should not be undermined despite the abundance of translators. Finally, the hygiene status in a field hospital requires management by nurses with active participation of all members.