Planning a modular intensive care unit for patients of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has provided opportunity to the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) healthcare institutions to plan and execute their surge capacity facilities and identify areas for improvements in planning in the future. Material and Methods: Available medical literature on the experiences of other countries in activating surge capacities in healthcare for the pandemic were examined in detail as were existing guidelines for establishing Intensive Care Units (ICU). Personal communications with peers to understand difficulties faced in activating surge capacities were also factored in. Results: Based on the findings from these sources, a plan to establish ten-bedded ICU units specifically for COVID-19 is evolved. The best practices and latest guidelines and experiences have been collated and modified suitably to suit the AFMS in this aspect. Conclusion: Planning ICUs in ten-bedded modular units will enable the AFMS to cater to surge capacities in the future for all situations where sudden increase in number of patients is anticipated.