ISO 5741:2023

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 5741
First edition
2023-05
Healthcare organization
management — Pandemic response —
Temporary medical facility
Management des organisations de soins de santé — Réponse en cas de
pandémie — Centre médical temporaire
Reference number
© ISO 2023
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Utilization of temporary medical facility . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Purpose of operation . . 3
4.3 Designation and operation. 3
4.4 Public notice and communication . 3
4.5 Operational principles . 4
4.6 Admission criteria . 5
4.7 Discharge criteria . 5
4.8 Exclusion criteria . 6
4.9 Staffing . 6
4.10 Staff management . 6
4.11 Patient management . 7
4.12 Infection prevention rules . . 7
4.13 Meal management . 8
4.14 Materials . 8
4.15 Hygiene and laundry management . 8
4.16 Visitors . 8
4.17 Disinfection after discharge . 8
4.18 Waste disposal . 9
5 Termination of TMF . 9
5.1 Disinfection of the facility, cleaning and waste disposal . 9
5.2 Restoration of the facility . 9
Annex A (informative) Example of TMF in South Korea .10
Bibliography .14
iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
Governments undertook various initiatives to liberate, to expand, or to build capacity to treat COVID-19
patients, to isolate infected individuals, to quarantine contacts, and to protect workers and vulnerable
populations, such as homeless people. These structures may have taken a variety of forms including
purpose-built (e.g. hospitals), requisitioned (e.g. hotels), and temporary (tents). Some of these facilities
were used extensively, some saw little use, and some were not needed.
This document focuses on the operation of temporary isolation and quarantine facilities. They may be
operated separately or as a combination facility; some may also be used to treat mild cases while serious
cases are transferred to hospitals. This document does not address collateral interventions necessary
to mobilize the personnel needed to staff them, nor the equipment, supplies, and other resources
needed to operate them. The success of all such initiatives, when needed, hinges on the availability of
qualified personnel and other resources. Further, this document does not address aspects of pandemic
preparedness planning pertaining to policies and preparations to cope with a possible rapid increase in
the number of pandemic cases, contacts, etc. Pertinent policies, which may vary by jurisdiction, include:
a) design of facilities, including construction or conversion plans;
b) empowerment to requisition land, facilities, etc.;
c) ability to contract for or to arrange construction or conversion;
d) rapid licensing of facilities to operate.
Similarly excluded is decommissioning, including facilities’ re-purposing, re-conversion, deactivation,
or demolition. Appropriate pandemic response management depends, in part, on the characteristics of
the infectious agent. Necessarily, this document assumes a future pandemic agent with COVID-19-like
characteristics in a similar contextual background to that which existed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 5741:2023(E)
Healthcare organization management — Pandemic
response — Temporary medical facility
1 Scope
This document describes the requirements, operational principles, and procedures of the temporary
medical facility (TMF) regarding:
a) planning;
b) staffing;
c) patient management;
d) discharge and termination of isolation for patients with infectious diseases in the context of
ongoing widespread community transmission.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
confirmed case
person confirmed to be infected with the pathogen of the infectious disease according to the testing
criteria for diagnosis, irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms
[SOURCE: ISO 5472:2022, 3.2]
3.2
information technology
IT
resources (especially computers and telecommunication) used to acquire, process, store, and
disseminate information
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 38500:2015, 2.12, modified — "(especially computers and telecommunication)" has
been added.]
3.3
pandemic
worldwide spread of an infectious disease
[SOURCE: ISO/PAS 45005:2020, 3.5, modified — "a disease" has been changed to "an infectious disease".]
3.4
personal protective equipment
PPE
device or appliance designed to be worn by an individual for protection against one or more health and
safety hazards
Note 1 to entry: PPE includes, but is not limited to, gowns, gloves, respirators, safety glasses, helmets and goggles.
Note 2 to entry: While generally not considered PPE, masks (and other face coverings) can provide a level of
protection for the user, in addition to their primary purpose as a public health measure to control the spread of
transmission and infection.
Note 3 to entry: In many countries PPE is required to conform to national regulations.
[SOURCE: ISO/PAS 45005:2020, 3.8]
3.5
temporary medical facility
TMF
isolation facility with defined infrastructure also known as temporary hospital for mild or asymptomatic
confirmed cases (3.1) which guarantees medical basic support
Note 1 to entry: Mild or asymptomatic confirmed cases are often transferred to the TMF for the purpose of
isolation and prevention of widespread community transmission.
Note 2 to entry: The TMF is made for those who find it difficult to gain medical support and care at home.
3.6
shared patient information system
system with a standardized information model, accessible by authorized users, that provides patient
information
3.7
working area
area defined for use by medical or operational personnel, separated from the infection area (3.8)
3.8
infection area
infection zone
area, space, or building separated physically from the working area (3.7)
4 Utilization of temporary medical facility
4.1 General
The TMF may temporarily act as hospitals to alleviate burdens imposed on hospital resources better
reserved for severe cases, to prevent disease spreading and to isolate confirmed cases. Patients in the
TMF are cared by medical professionals and transferred immediately to a hospital if the symptoms/
signs are aggravated (Figure 1). When a patient’s symptoms/signs improve, he or she is discharged
in accordance with the criteria set in place for lifting isolation. The main function of the TMF focuses
on monitoring rather than intensive treatment. Existing facilities can be utilized as TMFs, such as
idle public centres, training centres, religious educational centres and resorts, provided that they are
inspected and approved by the designated authority according to 4.3 list items a) to d). After opening for
operations, TMFs should be inspected regularly, throughout their lifetime, by the designated authority.
Non-conformity with requirements laid down in 4.4 to 4.18 may result in request of adjustments/
modifications in the TMF for conformity, temporary or permanent closure of the TMF.
Key
a screening station (testing)
b confirmed case
c triage
d severe symptoms/signs
e mild/asymptomatic
f hospital
g temporary medical facility
h severe case
i mild case
Figure 1 — Admission route to TMF
4.2 Purpose of operation
The TMF provides temporary medical care and resources in lieu of the regular health system in a
massive disease outbreak for the following purposes:
a) prevention of transmission of highly contagious pathogens within the community by providing
isolation facilities;
b) securing hospital beds for the treatment of patients with severe symptoms/signs by offering an
isolation place for mild cases when the caseload overwhelms in the community;
c) offering patients with the opportunity for timely transfers to hospitals in case of aggravation or
medical deterioration of symptoms/signs.
4.3 Designation and operation
The TMF shall be designated by authorities and be operated with resources to meet the needs.
a) Adequate human resources and expenses should be in place to designate and operate a TMF by the
appropriate authority or jurisdiction (city mayor/provincial governor/private organization’s CEO).
b) The TMF designated within a jurisdiction should be inspected to ensure that it is immediately
available; and detailed operating plans should be developed.
c) The TMF should be provided with human resources, including medical professionals and
operational/support personnel necessary for operating the TMF.
d) The TMF should support medical devices, healthcare products and other basic materials, such as
PPE when necessary. PPE shall be assigned depending on risk analysis and evaluation.
4.4 Public notice and communication
Rapid and accurate sharing of information in times of emergency is indispensable for infection
prevention and control. This is the reason why IT shall be utilized in sharing medical resources quickly
and accurately among all the parties involved. In this context, the location and operation of the TMF
should be announced promptly to screening stations, hospitals, public health centres and related
organizations using shared communication channels (Figure 2).
The availability of the TMF shall be shared with the stakeholders.
a) Patient information sharing programs shall be operated at national and regional levels, including
national public health agencies, local governments and hospitals.
b) If the available IT infrastructure is not sufficient, one may resort to fax and telephone
communications.
Key
a shared patient information system
b central government
c local government
d hospital/public health centre
e screening station
f temporary medical facility
Figure 2 — Public communication schemes for TMF
4.5 Operational principles
The principles enable the TMF to abide by the core operational mandates.
a) A TMF should be a dedicated, shared or exclusive facility that ensures facilitated patient transfer to
a healthcare organization.
b) The working area for medical and operation personnel shall be completely isolated from the
infection area (Annex A).
c) The working area for medical and operation personnel should have a separate entrance that cuts
off any overlap with the path designated for patients.
d) In case that the minimum level of protection must be used, as in a pandemic or endemic, donning
and doffing room for PPE shall be separated.
e) The air from the infection area shall be blocked off from entering the working area.
f) Ventilate the air in the infection area by opening the windows.
g) One room should accommodate one patient, equipped with a separate washroom, in principle;
however, one room may accommodate two or three patients if there are no available single rooms.
The precise implementation of such rooms depends upon the nature of the disease and follows the
guidelines from the WHO or the national public health agenc
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