Articles

The organisational response of a hospital critical care service to the COVID-19 pandemic: The Groote Schuur Hospital experience

W Michell, I Joubert, S Peters, D Fredericks, M Miller, J Piercy, C Arnold-Day, D Thomson, R vanZyl-Smit, G Calligaro, G Strathie, P Semple, R Hofmeyr, D Peters, K Dheda

Abstract


Background. There are limited data about the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-related organisational responses and the challenges of expanding a critical care service in a resource-limited setting.

Objectives. To describe the ICU organisational response to the pandemic and the main outcomes of the intensive care service of a large state teaching hospital in South Africa.

Methods. Data were extracted from administrative records and a prospective patient database with ethical approval. An ICU expansion plan was developed, and resource constraints identified. A triage tool was distributed to referring wards and hospitals. Intensive care was reserved for patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The total number of ICU beds was increased from 25 to 54 at peak periods, with additional non-COVID ICU capacity required during the second wave. The availability of nursing staff was the main factor limiting expansion. A ward-based high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) service reduced the need for ICU admission of patients who failed conventional oxygen therapy. A team was established to intubate and transfer patients requiring ICU admission but was only available for the first wave.

Results. We admitted 461 COVID-19 patients to the ICU over a 13-month period from 5 April 2020 to 5 May 2021 spanning two waves of admissions. The median age was 50 years and duration of ICU stay was 9 days. More than a third of the patients (35%; n=161) survived to hospital discharge.

Conclusions. Pre-planning, leadership, teamwork, flexibility and good communication were essential elements for an effective response. A  shortage of nurses was the main constraint on ICU expansion. HFNO may have reduced the requirement for ICU admission, but patients intubated after failing HFNO had a poor prognosis.


Authors' affiliations

W Michell, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

I Joubert, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

S Peters, School of Public Health & Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

D Fredericks, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

M Miller, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

J Piercy, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

C Arnold-Day, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Critical Care, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa

D Thomson, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

R vanZyl-Smit, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

G Calligaro, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

G Strathie, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

P Semple, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

R Hofmeyr, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

D Peters, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

K Dheda, Division of Critical Care, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

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Cite this article

Southern African Journal of Critical Care 2021;37(2):63-69. DOI:10.7196/SAJCC.2021.v37i2.503

Article History

Date submitted: 2021-08-06
Date published: 2021-08-06

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