Hospital surge capacity plan.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a hospital surge capacity plan

The proposed legislation would require the Commissioner of Emergency Management, in consultation with hospitals, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other relevant city, state and federal agencies, to develop a hospital surge capacity plan to ensure the ability of hospitals to increase bed capacity by 100 percent, to the extent feasible, in the event of a public health emergency or state of emergency. Such plan would be required to include information regarding protocols and procedures for activation and implementation of such plan, strategies and tactics for hospitals to increase bed capacity, protocols to meet additional equipment and resource needs, and a mechanism to establish ongoing communication among hospitals, the New York City Emergency Management Department and other governmental agencies. The Commissioner would be required to assess the plan annually and submit copies of the plan and updated versions to the Council.