From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: Medical Surge Readiness

Description: Medical surges--i.e., influxes of patients that exceed a
hospital's normal operating capacity--put enormous strain on a hospital's
ability to care for patients.

Hospital representatives told us that, during some COVID-19 surges, they
didn't have enough staff, supplies, or space to care for patients.
Health care coalitions--regional groups of health care and response
organizations--provided help, such as extra supplies.

HHS funds coalitions as part of its efforts to help hospitals and others
manage surges. It is also developing guidelines to help organizations
deal with future surges, among other ongoing efforts.

Related GAO Works: GAO-22-105461.  Medical Surge Readiness

Released: August 2022

During some COVID-19 surges, there were hospitals without enough staff,
supplies, or space for patients. These medical surges put enormous
strain on hospitals' ability to care for patients.

Health care coalitions provided support with items like extra supplies.

The Department of Health and Human Services funds these coalitions as
part of its efforts to help hospitals and others manage surges.

How can these surges be better managed in a future pandemic? HHS is
developing guidelines to help organizations deal with future surges,
among other ongoing efforts.

Find out more at GAO.gov.

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For more info, check out our report GAO-22-105461 at: GAO.gov