EP 08 - Resilience Redefined: The Intersection of Infection Prevention and Emergency Management at an Urban Medical Center

Background: Infection Preventionists (IPs) assume an indispensable role in emergency management. IPs possess the unique skills of surveillance, epidemiology, investigation, and disease prevention that contribute to effectively responding to natural disasters. In September 2023, a deluge of rain precipitated a power outage at an urban medical center necessitating prompt initiation of the incident command system, and rapid triage and evacuation of 116 patients. This retrospective analysis aims to convey the Infection Prevention (IP) lead response of the first natural disaster-related hospital closure in New York City since Hurricane Sandy.

Methods: An interdisciplinary assemblage composed of representatives from IP, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering/Facilities Management, Environmental Services, and Central Sterile Processing effectively collaborated to ensure an environment conducive to patient, visitor, and employee safety. Secondary prevention interventions included an infection control risk assessment, reprocessing all sterile instruments, enhanced terminal cleaning and disinfection, and evaluation of temperature and humidity in critical areas. IPs developed a tool to assess potential water infiltration, deteriorating drywall, mold, rust, malodorous smells, and warping of floors. Special attention was paid to the patient care areas, laboratory, pharmacy, kitchen, and operating suite. Findings were consolidated and presented to key stakeholders including hospital leadership and the state health department (SHD).

Results: After findings were remediated, the SHD, on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, authorized the medical center to open the emergency room, one medical/surgical unit, and the intensive care unit during the first weekend of October 2023. The emergency operations center reported that the medical center transitioned from the response phase to the recovery phase during the third week of October.

Conclusions: IPs play an integral role in guiding response efforts and fostering external resilience. It is essential that IPs are involved in emergency management to provide subject matter expertise and initiate targeted interventions to ensure patient, visitor, and employee safety.