European countries' responses in ensuring sufficient physical infrastructure and workforce capacity during the first COVID-19 wave

Winkelmann, Juliane; Webb, Erin; Williams, Gemma; Hernández-Quevedo, Cristina; Maier, Claudia B.; Panteli, Dimitra

doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.06.015

Cited by 79 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In response to the rapidly increasing numbers of patients with COVID-19, countries have implemented different strategies. The most common strategies were the postponement of elective surgery, the re-configuration of hospital wards, the use of private hospitals or the setup of field hospitals, to rapidly create additional acute and ICU beds [ 4 , 21 ]. In the first wave, countries seemed to have used these various strategies to increase hospital capacities to highest possible levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many hospitals in other European regions (e.g., the Dutch region of Brabant and Grand Est in France) were also overwhelmed with the influx of patients with COVID-19 and transferred critically ill patients to other hospitals across the country or even neighbouring countries to free up capacity [3] . Throughout Europe, hospitals were required to postpone elective treatments to free up hospital beds and to add beds to ICUs equipped with ventilators while maintaining essential services such as urgent consultations, necessary treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, dialysis), maternal services, and rehabilitation [4] , [5] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A country-level analysis comparing hospital capacity and utilisation during the first COVID-19 wave across Europe

et al. 2022

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A country-level analysis comparing hospital capacity and utilisation during the first COVID-19 wave across Europe

et al. 2022

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“…Other studies have also identified the fragmentation in the EU regarding nationally implemented COVID-19 measures ( 4 , 5 , 9 ). Previous studies highlighted the need for better European structures and a better delegation of tasks ( 3 – 5 , 38 , 40 ). The purchase and distribution of certain equipment call for joint procurement and standardized processes ( 4 , 5 , 40 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies highlighted the need for better European structures and a better delegation of tasks ( 3 – 5 , 38 , 40 ). The purchase and distribution of certain equipment call for joint procurement and standardized processes ( 4 , 5 , 40 ). This becomes especially apparent in the studied cross-border region, where countries often face similar obstacles or could help each other even better if standardized structures or agreements were in place and considered nationally ( 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Sommer

Rehbock

Vos

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundIn the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine (EMR), cross-border collaboration is essential for resource-saving and needs-based patient care within the emergency medical service (EMS) systems and interhospital transport (IHT). However, at the onset of the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, differing national measures highlighted the fragmentation within the European Union (EU) in its various approaches to combating the pandemic. To assess the consequences of the pandemic in the EMR border area, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects and “lessons learned” regarding cross-border collaboration in EMS and IHT.MethodA qualitative study with 22 semi-structured interviews was carried out. Experts from across the EMR area, including the City of Aachen, the City region of Aachen, the District of Heinsberg (Germany), South Limburg (The Netherlands), and the Province of Limburg, as well as Liège (Belgium), took part. The interviews were coded and analyzed according to changes in cross-border collaboration before and during the pandemic, as well as lessons learned and recommendations.ResultsEach EU member country within the EMR area, addressed the pandemic individually with national measures. Cross-border collaboration between regional actors was hardly or not at all addressed at the national level during political decision- or policymaking. Previous direct communication at the personal level was replaced by national procedures, which made regular cross-border collaboration significantly more difficult. The cross-border transfer regulations of patients with COVID-19 proved to be complex and led, among other things, to patients being transported to hospitals far outside the border region. Collaboration continues to be seen as valuable and Euregional emergency services including hospitals work well together, albeit to different degrees. The information and data exchange should, however, be more transparent to use resources more efficiently.ConclusionEffective Euregional collaboration of emergency services is imperative for public safety in a multi-border region with strong economic, cultural, and social cross-border links. Our findings indicate that existing (pre-pandemic) structures which included regular meetings of senior managerial staff in the region and a number of thematic working groups were helpful to deal with and to compensate for the disruptions during the crisis. Regional cross-border agreements that are currently based on mutual but more or less informal arrangements need to be formalized and better promoted and recognized also at the national and EU level to increase resilience. The continuous determination of synergies and good and best practices are further approaches to support cross-border collaboration especially in preparation for future crises.

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“…The spread of COVID-19 has usually not been uniform, and there have been different ICU demands within the affected countries and their regions. Central reporting systems for the monitoring of ICU capacities were therefore established in some countries [ 17 ]. The absence of such a platform, often combined with a fragmented health care system and small ICU facilities, may slow down the response and hold back the provision of appropriate care to critically ill patients, both with and without COVID-19 [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Control Centre for Intensive Care as a Tool for Effective Coordination, Real-Time Monitoring, and Strategic Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Komenda¹,

Černý²,

Šnajdárek³

et al. 2022

J Med Internet Res

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In the Czech Republic, the strategic data-based and organizational support for individual regions and for providers of acute care at the nationwide level is coordinated by the Ministry of Health. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country needed to very quickly implement a system for the monitoring, reporting, and overall management of hospital capacities. The aim of this viewpoint is to describe the purpose and basic functions of a web-based application named “Control Centre for Intensive Care,” which was developed and made available to meet the needs of systematic online technical support for the management of intensive inpatient care across the Czech Republic during the first wave of the pandemic in spring 2020. Two tools of key importance are described in the context of national methodology: one module for regular online updates and overall monitoring of currently free capacities of intensive care in real time, and a second module for online entering and overall record-keeping of requirements on medications for COVID-19 patients. A total of 134 intensive care providers and 927 users from hospitals across all 14 regions of the Czech Republic were registered in the central Control Centre for Intensive Care database as of March 31, 2021. This web-based application enabled continuous monitoring and decision-making during the mass surge of critical care from autumn 2020 to spring 2021. The Control Center for Intensive Care has become an indispensable part of a set of online tools that are employed on a regular basis for crisis management at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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European countries' responses in ensuring sufficient physical infrastructure and workforce capacity during the first COVID-19 wave

Cited by 79 publications

References 34 publications

A country-level analysis comparing hospital capacity and utilisation during the first COVID-19 wave across Europe

A country-level analysis comparing hospital capacity and utilisation during the first COVID-19 wave across Europe

Impacts and Lessons Learned of the First Three COVID-19 Waves on Cross-Border Collaboration in the Field of Emergency Medical Services and Interhospital Transports in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine: A Qualitative Review of Expert Opinions

Control Centre for Intensive Care as a Tool for Effective Coordination, Real-Time Monitoring, and Strategic Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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