NM MEMS Framework

The New Mexico Modular Emergency Medical System (NM MEMS) Framework

Summary: The temporary inpatient care areas established during overwhelming patient surge.

Description: In general, the AICA will be located in a hospital(s) but may also be set up in areas external to the hospital, ideally in close proximity to a hospital. AICAs are temporary and designed to be limited to patients of the same acuity level with the same illness, housed or “cohorted” together in a common healthcare environment. The AICA provides illness-specific and supportive care utilizing the existing support services of the associated hospital (e.g. laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and food service). The AICA is designed to treat patients who need inpatient treatment, but do not require advanced care, such as mechanical ventilation or those who are likely to die from their illness. Restricting the type of patients treated at an AICA serves two purposes. First, it allows a streamlined approach to patient care, as most patients will require similar treatment following preestablished critical pathways or clinical practice guidelines. Second, in situations where isolation is desirable but impractical, this plan groups patients with similar infections/exposures and limits exposure to non-infected persons, a practice recommended by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Planning Assumptions:

a. The best place (economy of personnel and infrastructure needs) for sick or injured patients to be treated is within the existing health care infrastructure. b. During overwhelming medical surge, the goal of response will be to optimize the use of available resources to provide a reasonable level of healthcare to those affected by the incident.

c. The AICA facilities, as well as medical personnel and supplies, will be most efficient if directed to patients of the catastrophic incident only. d. The type of incident and availability of resources will determine the staffing of the AICA. The number of patients expected to survive will dictate the allocation of medical staff.

e. The AICA will function more efficiently and require fewer dedicated specialized resources if located within, adjacent to or in close proximity to a supporting hospital(s).

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