Mobile Hospital Systems in Pandemic Response
Summary
Mobile hospital systems have emerged as a critical component of global pandemic preparedness and response, offering rapid expansion of care capacity outside conventional facilities. These systems encompass a spectrum of models—ranging from large-scale makeshift and field hospitals erected in public venues to modular medical units deployable in remote settings. By integrating streamlined logistics, flexible clinical protocols and, increasingly, digital health platforms, mobile hospitals can relieve pressure on fixed hospitals, isolate patients with infectious diseases and maintain continuity of routine and emergency care. Key considerations include site selection and zoning to separate infection-risk areas, standardised workflows for patient triage and transfer, and homogenous quality management across diverse medical teams. Evidence from recent outbreaks demonstrates how mobile systems have reduced hospital overcrowding, improved patient throughput and facilitated early identification of severe cases. Optimising medical resource allocation—staffing ratios, equipment distribution and supply chains—further maximises the public health impact. As health systems worldwide confront emerging pathogens and potential future waves, mobile hospital systems will remain indispensable assets for surge capacity, rapid deployment and equitable access to care.
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Mobile Hospital Systems in Pandemic Response publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mobile hospital systems in pandemic response across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mobile hospital system: A temporary healthcare facility designed for rapid deployment to augment existing capacity during emergencies.
Fangcang shelter hospital: Large public venues such as sports arenas or exhibition centres converted into temporary hospitals for isolating and treating patients with mild to moderate infectious disease.
Alternate care site (ACS): Non-traditional structures adapted to provide ambulatory, acute or subacute care when conventional hospitals exceed surge capacity.
Surge capacity: The capability of a healthcare system to expand beyond normal services to meet sudden increases in patient demand.
References
- Medical implementation practice and its medical performance evaluation of a giant makeshift hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: An innovative model response to a public health emergency in Shanghai, China. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
- The Effect of Fangcang Shelter Hospitals under Resource Constraints on the Spread of Epidemics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
- Emergency Preparedness and Management of Mobile Cabin Hospitals in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health (2022).
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