ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created multiple, complex and intense demands on hospitals, including the need for surge planning in the many locations outside epicenters such as northern Italy or New York City. We here describe such surge planning in an Academic Health Center that encompasses a children’s hospital. Interprofessional teams from every aspect of inpatient care and hospital operations worked to prepare for a COVID-19 surge. In so doing, they successfully innovated ways to integrate pediatric and adult care and maximize bed capacity. The success of this intense collaborative effort offers an opportunity for ongoing teamwork to enhance efficient, effective, and high-quality patient care.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.
Contributors statements
Dr. Natale conceptualized and drafted the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.
Drs. Blumberg, Dimitriades, Hirose, Kair, Kirk, Mateev, McKnight, Plant, Tzimenatos, Wiedeman, Witkowski, Underwood, and Ms. Boehmer critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the submitted manuscript.
Dr. Lakshminrusimha designed the figure, critically reviewed the manuscript, and approved the submitted manuscript.
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Notes on contributors
JoAnne E. Natale
JoAnne E. Natale, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics and specialist in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Natale is Director of Quality and Safety for the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Judie Boehmer
Judie Boehmer, R.N., M.N., N.E.A.-B.C. is an Executive Director of Patient Care Services who directs Children’s and Maternal Health services at UC Davis Medical Center. Ms. Boehmer advocates for high quality, family centered care for children regionally and nationally.
Dean A. Blumberg
Dean A. Blumberg, M.D. in a Professor of Pediatrics and a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Blumberg brings his clinical expertise to the public through podcasts, public service messages, and outreach.
Constantine Dimitriades
Constantine Dimitriades, M.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics and a specialist in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Dimitriades scholarly interests include simulation for emergency response, teamwork, and critical communication.
Shinjiro Hirose
Shinjiro Hirose, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the University of California Davis School of Medicine and Chief of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, as well as the Director UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center at UC Davis Medical Center.
Laura R. Kair
Laura R. Kair, M.D., M.A.S. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospitalist in the University of California Davis School of Medicine as well as the Medical Director of the UC Davis Medical Center Newborn Nursery. Dr. Kair is a UC Davis Women’s Health Scholar in the BIRCWH K12 Program and a breastfeeding researcher.
J. Douglas Kirk
James D. Kirk, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer at UC Davis Medical Center. Dr. Kirk is a Fellow in both the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Stephanie N. Mateev
Stephanie N. Mateev, M.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics and specialist in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Mateev is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, and the ECMO Program at UC Davis Medical Center.
Heather McKnight
Heather McKnight, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine.
Jennifer Plant
Jennifer Plant, M.D., M.Ed. is a Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Plant is an education scholar, mentor, and fellowship director.
Leah S. Tzimenatos
Leah S. Tzimenatos, M.D. is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Tzimenatos research interests include patient safety and sedation management.
Jean T. Wiedeman
Jean T. Wiedeman, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics and a specialist in Pediatric Infectious Disease in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Wiedeman guides antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention program for the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Jessica Witkowski
Jessica Witkowski, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospitalist in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. At the Medical Director of Pediatric Acute Care Units, Dr. Witkowski leads clinical quality improvement initiatives focused on safe discharge, family centered rounds, and early sepsis management.
Mark A. Underwood
Mark Underwood, M.D., M.A.S. is a Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Neonatology in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Underwood research focuses on the gut microbiome and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.
Satyan Lakshminrusimha
Satyan Lakshminrusimha, M.D. is the Dennis and Nancy Marks Chair and Professor of Pediatrics in the University of California Davis School of Medicine the and Pediatrician-in-Chief of the UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Dr. Satyan is a neonatologist, neonatal resuscitation and pulmonary resuscitation investigator, and an illustrator.