Hospital Operations Toolkit for COVID-19
Note: This resource was last reviewed in September 2021.
This toolkit was designed as a single source of information for hospital emergency managers and planners preparing to manage large numbers of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some information may be applicable to other hospital personnel and non-hospital settings. The toolkit is comprised of four primary sections and covers considerations from before patients arrive at a hospital to after they are discharged and is designed for users to easily navigate to desired information. All content may be accessed from this landing page and each section links back to this page.
Because information about the pandemic is rapidly evolving, toolkit content may not accurately reflect the landscape at the time the document is referenced. If you are a clinician treating a patient, please refer to the National Institutes of Health Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines. If you have tools, templates, or other resources to contribute to this toolkit, please contact our Assistance Center.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated increased capacity in hospitals across the country to accommodate large numbers of patients with needs ranging from diagnostics to critical care. Generally, hospitals meet these increased capacity needs by adjusting in three areas: space, staffing, and supply chain and resource management.
The health and safety of staff and patients – and the effective continued operations of the hospital – are dependent on strong infection prevention and control efforts that minimize disease transmission within the facility.
Hospitals have significantly adjusted their policies and processes to enable effective and equitable patient care during the pandemic. This includes adaptations from conventional care processes, the increased use of remote technologies, and case management from initial screening, testing, and diagnosis through treatment and discharge.
Attention to administrative and logistical needs supports continued operations throughout all phases of the pandemic. Hospitals have adapted their command and control structures, improved communications practices, prepared for the availability of vaccine for their staff, demonstrated commitment to quality improvement, and worked toward financial recovery.