Abstract
To address the anticipated hospital surge due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a single statewide system was developed to expedite patient transfers and equitably distribute patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 across hospitals. The effort, featuring a 24/7 call line, was initiated by the Arizona Department of Health Services and collaboratively protocolized with health care system leadership. This system has facilitated the transfer of thousands of patients with Covid-19 across public and private hospitals.
Summary In March 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic taking hold across the United States, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Arizona hospital leaders joined to form the Arizona Surge Line, a 24/7 transfer service that has facilitated the rapid placement and equal distribution of Covid-19 patients across the state’s hospitals. The goal is to ensure patients receive the right level of care without delay, while also load-balancing ICU beds and other health care resources. Since July 2020, more than 130 distinct hospitals within Arizona have sent or received patients with Covid-19 for higher levels of care through the service. This public-private collaboration involved a variety of hospital types, health care systems, funding sources, jurisdictions, and payers. Working together — and with the public health department’s facilitation — Arizona’s hospitals effectively formed a single, efficient statewide system of care for Covid-19. We believe this initiative can serve as a model for others.