Using Hospital Incident Command Systems to Respond to the Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Laura Westley; Renee C B Manworren; Debrea M Griffith; Jennifer A Hoffmann; Aron Janssen; Susan Routburg; Karen Richey

doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000001254

Using Hospital Incident Command Systems to Respond to the Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Nurs Adm. 2023 Feb 1;53(2):96-103. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001254.

Authors

Laura Westley¹, Renee C B Manworren, Debrea M Griffith, Jennifer A Hoffmann, Aron Janssen, Susan Routburg, Karen Richey

Affiliation

¹ Author Affiliations: Sr Director (Westley), Emergency Services, Transport and Patient Access; Director of Nursing Research and Professional Practice (Dr Manworren); Nursing Director (Griffith), Floor 21; Attending Physician (Dr Hoffman), Division of Emergency Medicine; Vice Chair (Dr Janssen), Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health; Senior Director (Routburg), Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health; Associate Chief Nursing Officer (Dr Richey), Inpatient Services, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Illinois; Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Dr Manworren); Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Dr Hoffmann); and Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Dr Janssen), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.

Abstract

Hospital incident command systems (HICS) were implemented to expand mental and behavioral healthcare (MBHC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on patient census, nurse vacancies, staff injuries, and staff perceptions were analyzed to quantify issues and track progress toward HICS goals. Data, environment of care, staffing, staff support, staff education, and communication resources were developed. After HICS implementation, 84% of nurses reported confidence in providing care to youth with acute MBHC needs. Nurse leaders should consider HICS for addressing other crises.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
COVID-19*
Child
Hospitals
Humans
Pandemics

Grants and funding

K12 HS026385/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States