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A SARS outbreak may generate issues that exceed the scope of a particular
healthcare facility and must be addressed at the community level, with
representation from healthcare systems, public health, and industry.
Some of these issues include:
Facilities
- Designation
of certain hospitals to be the primary providers of SARS patient care
- Designation,
development, and staffing of community SARS evaluation centers
- Construction
and certification of new AIIRs
- Criteria/procedures
for and impact of closure of facilities
- Establishment of alternative "overflow" facilities
Personnel
- Protection
and training of first responders
- Personnel
surge capacity for heavily affected hospitals
- Coordination
of volunteer efforts
- Assistance
to healthcare workers in quarantine or on home/work restrictions
- Communication
with and coordination of contract staff and independent physician groups
Supplies
- Implications
(e.g., fit-testing) of an emergency change in respirator type during
an outbreak
- Adequacy
of supplies of PPE and other equipment and materials
- Coordination
of donated items
Finance
- Requisition
and distribution of emergency funds to assist with construction and
modifications of facilities to care for SARS patients, overtime payment
for healthcare and other personnel, costs of healthcare worker furloughs,
lost revenues, and other expenses
Legal/regulatory
- Regulations
to ensure that no facility can refuse to care for patients with
SARS
- Certification
of new AIIRs
- Liability
issues related to healthcare workers in jobs for which they are
not specifically trained
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