Recovery From Crisis

ABSTRACT

Whilst there is no universally agreed definition of ‘recovery' in the context of a healthcare system post-crisis, for the purpose of this chapter, recovery is defined as the change to functioning and operations in acute care hospitals from crisis state to non-crisis state. This chapter will present a summary of some of the experiences of healthcare systems worldwide to the COVID-19 pandemic including the successes and shortcomings from all levels within the system. We will present the impact of the pandemic on the building blocks of the healthcare system and outline considerations for its recovery as the early pandemic surge subsides. We will then present a case study of the recovery process from the perspective of SBH Health System in Bronx, USA, following the first surge of COVID-19 in March 2020. Within this, we intend to highlight specific areas for improvement that were indicated by our healthcare system during the crisis and use these lessons learned to implement a plan for recovery of hospital services, continued improvements in-patient care and preparedness for future crises. © SBH Health System 2022.