Which strategy is used to increase surge capacity during a disaster?

Identifying clients eligible for early discharge is a key strategy to increase surge capacity during a disaster. This approach allows healthcare facilities to free up hospital beds more quickly, thereby accommodating a greater number of patients during emergencies, such as natural disasters or public health crises. By carefully assessing patients who are stable enough to be discharged, healthcare providers can optimize their resources and ensure that more critical cases receive the necessary care without unnecessary delays.

The other strategies, while potentially relevant to broader operational considerations, do not effectively enhance surge capacity in the same straightforward manner. Avoiding the use of outpatient areas for beds may actually limit the ability to expand capacity, as outpatient areas can serve as alternative spaces for patient care when inpatient beds are full. Completely eliminating elective surgeries might help reduce inpatient volume temporarily, but it doesn’t proactively facilitate the rapid adaptation of resources needed to effectively manage an influx of patients. Lastly, restricting patient admissions entirely could exacerbate the situation, leading to a denial of care for those in need, which is counterproductive in a disaster context where maximizing available care is essential.