Temporary COVID-19 Specialized Hospital: Management Strategies for Public Health Emergencies

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai with the Omicron variant in March 2022, locally accessible hospitals and healthcare centres encountered difficulties quickly responding to a demand for hospitals that were rapidly increasing, optimizing clinical results and controlling the infection. In this commentary, we summarize the management strategies of patients in a temporary COVID-19 specialized hospital during the outbreak in Shanghai, China. The present commentary was considered eight characteristics of management system, including general idea, infection prevention team, and efficient time manage-ment, and preventive and protective measures management, strategies for the management of infected patients, disinfection manage-ment, drug supply management strategies, and medical waste management. Following eight characteristics, the temporary COVID-19 specialized hospital operated effectively for 21 days. A total of 9674 patients were admitted, 7127 cases (73.67%) were cured and discharged, and 36 were transferred to designate hospitals for better treatment. Twenty-five management staff, 1130 medical, nursing staff, 565 logistics staff, and 15 volunteers participated in the temporary COVID-19 specialized hospital, and no infection prevention team member was infected. We speculated that these management strategies could be potential references for public health emergencies.