Playbook: Maintaining Emergency Department Operations During Utility Shutdowns and Respiratory Surges

Session Description: A construction project required shutdowns of domestic hot and cold water and medical gas to an entire adult and pediatric Emergency Department at a level 1 trauma facility. The water and gas interruptions occurred during record-high patient admissions and substantial community prevalence of norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Ensuring the continuity of infection prevention and control measures was essential in averting outbreaks during these outages. This presentation will introduce an infection preventionist's playbook for managing utility shutdowns.

This playbook outlines key stakeholders, regulatory requirements, and mitigation strategies. Additionally, it shares methodologies for garnering departmental and staff support, developing robust communication strategies, and building comprehensive checklists for executing essential tasks. The infection prevention and control focus within the playbook includes the provision of opportunities for hand hygiene, comprehensive education on the correct protocols for donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE), and strategies to maintain the functionality of toilets with no running water.

Participants can expect to gain practical knowledge and actionable insights from this session, equipping them with the tools to navigate and manage similar challenges in their healthcare settings.