It has been widely recognized that a public health emergency, such as an influenza pandemic or a bioterrorism act, could easily push the health care system beyond its capacity to deliver optimal care to all affected individuals. Under those circumstances, there is a need to have established plans with directions for maximizing the efficient use of available resources and making the necessary adjustments to the standard protocols of health and medical care.
Two reports, the Guide for Planning the Use of Scarce Resources During a Public Health Emergency in Kansas and Guidelines for the Use of Modified Health Care Protocols in Acute Care Hospitals During Public Health Emergencies, outline recommendations for developing protocols that health care and public health officials at the state, regional, and local levels could use during a public health emergency to maximize the number of lives saved. The reports were produced upon request from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Since scarce resource allocation planning is an ongoing process, if you have comments or suggestions to incorporate into these documents, please submit feedback by mail to Kansas Health Institute, Attn: Scarce Resources, 212 SW Eighth Ave., Ste. 300, Topeka, KS 66603.