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Utilization of Alternate Care Sites During the COVID-19 Surge and Mass Care: California, 2020–2021

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Kate Christensen Open the ORCID record for Kate Christensen [Opens in a new window] ,
Mitch Metzner ,
LeAnne Lovett-Floom ,
Carol Lindsay ,
Colin A. Meghoo ,
Kathy Staats ,
Asha Devereaux Open the ORCID record for Asha Devereaux [Opens in a new window] ,
Erin Noste  and
Howard Backer Open the ORCID record for Howard Backer [Opens in a new window]
Kate Christensen*
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Sacramento, CA, USA
Mitch Metzner
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Sacramento, CA, USA
LeAnne Lovett-Floom
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Sacramento, CA, USA
Carol Lindsay
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Emergency Medical Services Authority, Sacramento, CA, USA
Colin A. Meghoo
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Sacramento, CA, USA
Kathy Staats
Affiliation:
County EMS, Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, CA, USA
Asha Devereaux
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Sacramento, CA, USA
Erin Noste
Affiliation:
Emergency Medicine, University of California/San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
Howard Backer
Affiliation:
CAL-MAT, California Medical Assistance Team, Emergency Medical Services Authority, Sacramento, CA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Kate Christensen Email: katethamina@live.com.
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Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused critical hospital bed and staffing shortages in parts of California for most of 2020 and 2021. Alternate Care Sites (ACS) were established in several regions to alleviate the hospital patient surge and to maximize staffed bed capacity. Over 1900 patients were successfully provided medical care (with physician, nursing, respiratory therapy, oxygen, and pharmacy services) in relatively austere settings. This paper examines the challenges faced at these ACS facilities and how adaptations were incorporated according to the changing dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic to successfully manage higher acuity patients. ACS facilities were 1 approach to California’s surge of COVID-19 patients, despite limited medical supplies and staffing.

Keywords

alternate care sitecovid-19pandemicpatient caresurge
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e155
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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