Challenges Created by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Disaster Management Perspectives.

Objective: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unique challenges to pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) departments. The purpose of this study was to identify these challenges and ascertain how centers overcame barriers in creating solutions to continue to provide high-quality care and keep their workforce safe during the early pandemic.

Methods: This is a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with physicians in leadership positions who have disaster or emergency management experience.

The First 15 Minutes: A Novel Disaster Simulation Exercise.

Objective: The objective was to describe a feasible, multidisciplinary pediatric mass casualty event (MCE) simulation format that was less than 2 h within emergency department space and equipment constraints.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of an MCE in situ simulation program from June-October 2019. Participants rotated through 3 modules: (1) triage, (2) caring for a critical patient in an MCE setting, and (3) being in a disaster leadership role.

From World War II to COVID-19: A Historical Perspective on the American Medical Supply Chain.

COVID-19 is the latest episode of shortages of critical medical supplies. Historically and to the present day, medical supplies have been sourced from single regions in the world, thus rendering the supply chain vulnerable to a myriad of harmful circumstances. We argue that shortages in medications related and unrelated to COVID have illustrated the need for the United States to diversify its medical supply sources before future pandemics, political crises, or natural disasters occur.

Rapidly building surge capacity within a pandemic response using simulation-based clinical systems testing.

Introduction: As the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread across the globe, hospitals around the USA began preparing for its arrival. Building on previous experience with alternative care sites (ACS) during surge events, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) opted to redeploy their mobile paediatric emergency response teams. Simulation-based clinical systems testing (SbCST) uses simulation to test preoccupancy spaces and new processes.