Resource Management during a Pandemic Surge in a Small Hospital

This case study presents a scenario where a small community hospital faces a surge of patients during the early stages of the SARS-COVID pandemic. The hospital, located near a cruise ship port, has limited resources, including a 10-bed emergency department (ED) and a two-bed ICU. Several patients from a cruise ship, who are all part of the same family, present with worsening respiratory symptoms, including cough, fever, and shortness of breath. As more patients arrive, the ED staff must manage the influx while facing limited ventilators and critical care equipment. The scenario challenges participants to perform emergency triage, prioritize treatment for respiratory distress, manage limited resources, and follow pandemic protocols to prevent the spread of infection. Through these events, healthcare providers must transition from conventional operations to crisis standards of care while managing an overwhelmed system, making difficult decisions regarding resource allocation and patient survival.