title: Chapter 3. Coordination and collaboration with interface units. Recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on enhancing coordination and collaboration between the ICU and other key stakeholders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including coordination and collaboration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key recommendations include: (1) establish an Incident Management System with Emergency Executive Control Groups at facility, local, regional/state or national levels to exercise authority and direction over resource use and communications; (2) develop a system of communication, coordination and collaboration between the ICU and key interface departments within the hospital; (3) identify key functions or processes requiring coordination and collaboration, the most important of these being manpower and resources utilization (surge capacity) and re-allocation of personnel, equipment and physical space; (4) develop processes to allow smooth inter-departmental patient transfers; (5) creating systems and guidelines is not sufficient, it is important to: (a) identify the roles and responsibilities of key individuals necessary for the implementation of the guidelines; (b) ensure that these individuals are adequately trained and prepared to perform their roles; (c) ensure adequate equipment to allow key coordination and collaboration activities; (d) ensure an adequate physical environment to allow staff to properly implement guidelines; (6) trigger events for determining a crisis should be defined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for coordination and collaboration with interface units are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gavin M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Joynt
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Gila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margalit
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sandrock
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danis
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Leoniv
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sprung
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D055872:Surge Capacity; D000078329:Workforce