Battling COVID‐19: critical care and peri‐operative healthcare resource management strategies in a tertiary academic medical centre in Singapore

Abstract

Summary In December 2019, a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases were reported in Wuhan, China, and a novel coronavirus elucidated as the aetiologic agent. Although most initial cases occurred in China, the disease, termed coronavirus disease 2019, has become a pandemic and continues to spread rapidly with human‐to‐human transmission in many countries. This is the third novel coronavirus outbreak in the last two decades and presents an ensuing healthcare resource burden that threatens to overwhelm available healthcare resources. A study of the initial Chinese response has shown that there is a significant positive association between coronavirus disease 2019 mortality and healthcare resource burden. Based on the Chinese experience, some 19% of coronavirus disease 2019 cases develop severe or critical disease. This results in a need for adequate preparation and mobilisation of critical care resources to anticipate and adapt to a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 case‐load in order to mitigate morbidity and mortality. In this article, we discuss some of the peri‐operative and critical care resource planning considerations and management strategies employed in a tertiary academic medical centre in Singapore in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.

A comprehensive hospital agile preparedness (CHAPs) tool for pandemic preparedness, based on the COVID-19 experience

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“…In some countries, these surges during the initial outbreak of the disease resulted in hospitals suffering from significant resource strain, leading to excess patient mortality and negative impacts on staff wellbeing. 3,4 Both of these factors severely hamper the sustainability of the local COVID-19 response. 3,5,6 In this paper, we outline a structured approach to hospital preparedness for local surges.…”

“…3,4 Both of these factors severely hamper the sustainability of the local COVID-19 response. 3,5,6 In this paper, we outline a structured approach to hospital preparedness for local surges. This is based on NHS England and NHS Improvement's Secondary care: document of preparedness, which takes a comprehensive view and aims to support local responses and minimise the risk these exponential surges cause.…”

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Colombians during the outbreak: an online cross-sectional survey

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