Demand outstrips supplies, both patients with and without COVID-19 are triaged, and resources must be selectively allocated and reallocated (withdrawn from some patients and given to others). For example, to maximize benefit, a triage team should give a ventilator to a COVID-19 patient with acute respiratory failure instead of a patient with end-stage heart failure. A true crisis involves region-wide, and not just hospital-wide, shortages.


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The standards of care, or criteria for healthcare system guidelines during the pandemic, are as follows:
- Conventional standard 
- Contingency standards
- Crisis standards

Standards of Care in COVID-19

Kirkpatrick, J. N., Hull, S. C., Fedson, S., Mullen, B., & Goodlin, S. J. (2020). Scarce-Resource Allocation and Patient Triage During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 76(1), 85-92. 
doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.006
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109720352232?via%3Dihub

Scarce-Resource Allocation and Patient Triage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adherence to regular operating procedures, since the demand for resources does not threaten the supply. While there may be conservation of resources in anticipation of future crisis, it does not significantly alter patient care.


Conventional standard of care 

Currently in place for many healthcare systems. Resources are dwindling, so some rationing and adjustment of procedures to conserve, re-use, or substitute scarce resources such as PPE may occur. Non-urgent procedures are postponed. Testing and treatment necessary to avoid disease and death are implemented.


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