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  • Title: Chapter 4. Manpower. Recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.
    Author: Sandrock C, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine's Task Force for intensive care unit triage during an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.
    Journal: Intensive Care Med; 2010 Apr; 36 Suppl 1():S32-7. PubMed ID: 20213419.
    Abstract:
    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 manpower. METHODS: Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including manpower. RESULTS: Key recommendations include: (1) plan to access, coordinate and increase labor resources for continued and expanded ICU care including increasing critical care specialists and expanded practice for non-critical care personnel; (2) develop an education, awareness, preparation and communication program to ensure a well-protected and prepared workforce with coordinated rapid manpower expansion; (3) maintain a central inventory of all clinical and non-clinical staff with their current roles along with possible emergency re-training possibilities; (4) coordinate all clinical and non-clinical staffing requirements and determine the hospital's daily needs including a sick and no-show list together with ICU requirements; (5) provide clinical care to patients only with clinical staff and not with non-clinical staff; (6) delegate duties not within the scope of workers' practice under crisis conditions with proper supervision and support from experienced clinicians to ensure patient safety; (7) intensivists should supervise nonintensivist physicians to expand the workforce if patient surge exceeds the number of available ICU-trained specialists. CONCLUSIONS: Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for providing adequate manpower are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic.
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