How Doctors and Hospitals Can Better Prepare for Winter

Consider extra staffing and bed contingency arrangements

  • by


As someone who has worked in several different hospitals over the last few years, ranging from small rural institutions to large academic medical centers, I've rarely witnessed adequate preparations for the surge in activity that always occurs during December to March. Ironically too, many hospitals in the warmer south also experience a similar phenomenon, as "snowbirds" from the north head down to states such as Florida and South Carolina for the winter.


Here's what they need to do:

  • Physicians, particularly those in generalist specialties such as emergency and hospital medicine, should create special winter schedules -- with extra doctors working at the front lines. This should happen well in advance, and not at the last possible minute.
  • Ditto above for nurses, especially on medical floors.
  • Bed contingency arrangements should be made, with detailed plans of where to "board" patients when hospitals run at full capacity. Can an extra floor be opened or are there any empty spaces or rooms to put patients?
  • Coordinate with other healthcare facilities in the area (yes, even if they are technically rivals) to cope with even further unpredictable surges of patients -- like during a flu outbreak.

Remember too, it's not just all about doctors and nurses either. All hospital departments need to set up detailed plans. The pharmacy, laboratory, physical therapy, food and housekeeping services -- are all part of the vital hospital structure!


And sadly, that means failing our patients.

Suneel Dhand is an internal medicine physician and author of Thomas Jefferson: Lessons from a Secret Buddha and High Percentage Wellness Steps: Natural, Proven, Everyday Steps to Improve Your Health & Well-Being. He blogs at his self-titled site, Suneel Dhand. This post appeared on Kevin