Chapter 25 - Infectious Diseases and Public Health in a Field Hospital

Summary

Field hospitals can play a key role in the clinical treatment and public health management of infectious diseases during emergency situations, both in the setting of disasters primarily of an epidemic nature and of outbreaks that result secondarily in the midst of other crises. Planning and preparation are key components to successful operation in these settings and present unique issues compared to more routine field hospital scenarios absent a contagious threat. Special consideration needs to be given to site selection, the physical structure of a facility, infection prevention and control measures, personal protection, selection and training of staff, data collection and sharing, and clinical standard operating procedures. The mission of field hospitals can be expanded beyond clinical care to help stabilize epidemics through ensuring basic living conditions are available, including the provision of adequate food, clean water, sanitation, and shelter. The public health focused activities of a field hospital should include community-based prevention and health promotion activities, risk communication, and disease surveillance and control: all of which may provide invaluable contributions to broader public health response efforts during crisis.