The impact of hospital surge capacity during the 2009 influenza pandemic on patient safety: A systematic review

During severe influenza pandemics, healthcare demand often exceeds clinical capacity forroutine care. This systematic study examined secondary and tertiary hospital surge capacityinterventions and outcomes during the H1N1 pandemic. We searched seven databases fororiginal research on hospital, acute, secondary, and tertiary patient safety outcomes duringthe 2009–2020 influenza pandemic. A descriptive narrative synthesis assessed influenza-related data. We used the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cross-Sectional Studies toevaluate each study’s methodology. The study found hospitals use various methods tomanage their workforce during an influenza pandemic. All hospitals’surge capacity plansmodified staff, resources, structure, and system which contributed to improve patient safety,patient and family satisfaction, fewer adverse events, shorter wait times, and better patientflow. Surge capacity strategies improved patient safety by influencing variables such asadverse events, patient and family satisfaction, wait times, and the number of patients wholeft without being seen. Thefindings highlight the significance of incorporating surgecapacity strategies into healthcare pandemic planning. However, more research in a varietyof settings and countries is required to strengthen the evidence base