Implementation of the Hospital Incident Command System in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: A systematic review.

Abstract

Introduction: At the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many healthcare institutions activated the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) to manage their pandemic response. The current literature includes numerous case reports describing individual institutional responses. This paper serves to synthesize the various lessons learned published in the current literature.

Methods: This systematic review consists of articles identified by searching three online databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The authors used the search themes "Hospital Incident Command System" and "COVID" to identify articles to screen for inclusion. Finally, 12 articles published between 2020 and July 2022 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review.

Results: Eight articles (66.7 percent) discussed how the HICS improved communication within their organization. Eight articles (66.7 percent) described unique modifications to the HICS structure that enabled the organization to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic. The flexibility of the HICS allowed each individual organization to modify its structure to best respond to COVID-19. These modifications improved internal communication between hospital leadership, staff, and the community. Implementation of the HICS helped organizations to streamline communication by preventing information overload.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the HICS provided healthcare institutions with a flexible structure to effectively tailor their emergency response to the unique challenges within their institution and the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic.