Strategic optimization of patient flow and staffing schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic through Operations Management in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT

Background@#The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges in making time-bound hospital management decisions. The University of the Philippines -Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) is a tertiary COVID-19 referral center located in Manila, Philippines. The mismatch of increasing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infected mothers with few documented cases of infected infants has caused significant patient overflow and manpower shortage in its NICU.@*Objective@#We present an evaluated scheme for NICU bed reallocation to maximize capacity performance, staff rostering, and resource conservation, while preserving COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures.@*Methods@#Existing process workflows translated into operational models helped create a solution that modified cohorting and testing schemes. Staffing models were transitioned to meet patient flow. Outcome measurements were obtained, and feedback was monitored during the implementation phase.@*Results@#The scheme evaluation demonstrated benefits in (a) achieving shorter COVID-19 subunit length of stay; (b) better occupancy rates with minimal overflows; (c) workforce shortage mitigation with increased non-COVID workforce pool; (d) reduced personal protective equipment requirements; and (e) zero true SARS-CoV-2 infections.@*Conclusion@#Designed for hospital operations leaders and stakeholders, this operations process can aid in hospital policy formulation in modifying cohorting schemes to maintain quality NICU care and service during the COVID-19 pandemic.