In the event of a major event or disaster, the intensive care unit (ICU) should be able to offer an adapted and proportional response, within a limited time frame, to the influx of patients who can benefit from the technical facilities of the University Hospitals of Geneva. We developed an innovative approach to ICU care aimed to guarantee continuity by protecting healthcare staff from excessive fatigue and by tailoring the care provided from individualized care to the best care for the most people.

A modified organizational and systematic investigation method (MINOS, Paries - 2013) was used to elaborate an ICU security model; threats to activity shut down were identified and their prevention, recovery, and mitigation were planned. These actions were updated following the evolution of the crisis. Crew resources management (CRM) and bedside simulations were used in the implementation phase.

The ICU security model pillars were staff protection and patient management; the identified threats to activity continuity were lack of human resources, activity overload, medical errors, pressure sores and healthcare acquired infections; they were evaluated at intermediate or high risk to patients’ safety. The prioritized care plan was developed to control, recover, and mitigate these threats. It consisted in: adaptable level of ICU care, modular organization by cell, huddles, matrix for activities prioritization and controlled delegation method. Before implementation, 55 nurses and 46 doctors were trained by CRM courses and simulations. The pilot phase was deployed in one cell, from December 2021 to January 2022; 67 patients were admitted in the period; 13 adaptations to the original plan were introduced. No critical safety issues were reported.

The prioritized care could be an adapted and proportional ICU response to a major event allowing the continuity of the activity while protecting staff from overload. Further tests are needed.