IMPACTS—Improving Modular Patient Admission Capacity Through Scalable Solutions | Emergency Medicine

Frontal ariel view of the IMPACTS Shelter System Interoperability Testing Event (From left to right: DLX, BLU-MED, Western Shelter, and ZUMRO)

Optimizing the use of soft-sided medical shelter systems as a Hospital Expansion Solution (HXS) to increase patient care capacity during surge events.

Given the possibility of supply chain constraints for soft-sided structures and component parts, especially during a national emergency – we are working alongside five medical shelter vendors to determine the interoperability of each shelter system along with their relevant functional components.

This will allow for the creation of a fully functional patient care space utilizing products from different vendors, thus mitigating the effect of inventory shortages.

Determining Functional Capacity

Compiling experiential and real-world data ranging from pharmaceutical and equipment lists, to electrical and fuel consumption measurements, in order to create tools for future use and reference.

Testing and Demonstrating Interoperability

Planning and executing hands-on testing and demonstration events to determine the functionality and interoperability of various medical shelter systems.

Documenting Vital Resources

Developing a Shelter System Interoperability Guide, which will serve as the go-to resource for managing hospitals seeking to utilize a soft-sided hospital expansion solution from different vendors in the case of an emergency surge event.
Building Simulation Models to predict the effect of patient surge on hospital capacity and how the utilization of a HXS may impact relevant operational metrics.

Ariel view of the various vendor shelter systems at the IMPACTS Shelter System Interoperability Testing Event (From left to right: DLX, BLU-MED, Western Shelter, and ZUMRO)

About IMPACTS

The Improving Modular Patient Admission Capacity Through Scalable Solutions (IMPACTS) Project, implemented by the University of California, Davis, is funded under the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Modular/Convertible Capability Pilot under the direction of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the technical and administrative sponsor. The project has sourced and tested various modular, scalable, joint military-civilian patient care facilities, which may be utilized to quickly expand hospital inpatient capacity during patient surge events.

(L) Vendors and labor contractors transporting a ‘ZUMRO Interconnect’ to test interoperability during the IMPACTS Shelter System Interoperability Testing Event. (M) Nursing stations with supporting equipment setup from the Period of Performance 1 Modular Surge Facility Demonstration Event. (R) Patient care area setup from the Period of Performance 1 Modular Surge Facility Demonstration Event.

(L) Vendors and labor contractors transporting a ‘ZUMRO Interconnect’ to test interoperability during the IMPACTS Shelter System Interoperability Testing Event. (M) Nursing stations with supporting equipment setup from the Period of Performance 1 Modular Surge Facility Demonstration Event. (R) Patient care area setup from the Period of Performance 1 Modular Surge Facility Demonstration Event.

Our Team

We’re an interdisciplinary team with diverse expertise ranging from various professional backgrounds. Our intention is to take a creative and collaborative approach to planning and executing the proposed NDMS project and its various deliverables, supporting the education and prospective planning of vendor-specific soft-sided hospital expansion solutions for the nation's healthcare facilities.
Read our IMPACTS project brochure (PDF)

The Period of Performance 2 IMPACTS team at the Shelter System Interoperability Testing Event.

IMPACTS—Improving Modular Patient Admission Capacity Through Scalable Solutions | Emergency Medicine | UC Davis Health

Research

Improving Modular Patient Admission Capacity Through Scalable Solutions (IMPACTS)