Issue 18 Innovations in Health Care Surge Capacity Management

The articles in this issue focus on the experiences and lessons learned by health care facilities and systems during the early phases of the pandemic and beyond, to include the “tripledemic” (respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, and COVID-19) that affected children across the U.S. in the winter of 2022-2023. We examine the history and evolution of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council with a focus on their efforts to load patients during mass casualty incidents and public health emergencies. Subject matter experts from California discussed the unique characteristics and challenges faced by Imperial County and how tents and the use of an alternate care site bolstered patient care. Our final article highlights the experiences of a Navajo Area Indian Health Service hospital as they work around the clock to locate appropriate receiving facilities and provide care in place while simultaneously managing staffing shortages.