Preparing for compounding crises: Staff shortages and cyber-attack vulnerability in the era of COVID-19

In 2020, while the USA was experiencing successive waves of COVID-19, Universal Health Services experienced a major cyber attack that crippled electronic systems in over 200 hospitals, including a major academic medical centre that was playing a key regional role in COVID-19 care and clinical trials. This paper discusses the impact of the attack on …

Chronic Disease After Natural Disasters: Public Health, Policy, and Provider Perspectives

Individuals with chronic conditions require special attention in the planning, response, and recovery phases of disasters, given their unique needs for medication, medical equipment, continued medical care, and the potential for exacerbation of their conditions that require resource-intensive management. In addition to exacerbating existing disease, disasters also contribute to the development of new chronic illnesses. …

Do Shared Barriers When Reporting to Work During an Influenza Pandemic Influence Hospital Workers’ Willingness to Work? A Multilevel Framework

Objective Characteristics associated with interventions and barriers that influence health care workers’ willingness to report for duty during an influenza pandemic were identified. Additionally, this study examined whether workers who live in proximal geographic regions shared the same barriers and would respond to the same interventions. Methods Hospital employees (n=2965) recorded changes in willingness to …

Surge Capacity Logistics

Successful management of a pandemic or disaster requires implementation of preexisting plans to minimize loss of life and maintain control. Managing the expected surges in intensive care capacity requires strategic planning from a systems perspective and includes focused intensive care abilities and requirements as well as all individuals and organizations involved in hospital and regional …