When a hospital suddenly faces a surge of patients, during a pandemic, a natural disaster, or a mass-casualty event, every second, bed, and decision matters. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how fragile emergency care systems can be when demand exceeds capacity. But it also revealed something encouraging, healthcare innovation does make a difference. At the heart of this transformation is the ability to anticipate, adapt, and respond intelligently. This is where projects like ESCORT step in, bringing together technology, data, and ethical decision-making to strengthen emergency preparedness and save lives.

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Why surge preparedness is a growing challenge

Healthcare systems worldwide are under increasing pressure. Seasonal peaks, aging populations, and unexpected crises regularly push hospitals beyond their limits. A recent systematic review conducted during the ESCORT project analyzed over 140 studies from the past decade and found that preparedness is not just about having more beds, it’s about readiness across staff, supplies, space, and systems. Hospitals that struggled during crises often lacked real-time visibility into capacity, clear coordination mechanisms, or tools to forecast demand accurately. Those that performed better had invested in predictive planning, flexible staffing models, and digital decision-support systems.

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From reactive to predictive emergency care

One of the strongest findings from the review is the growing role of data-driven forecasting. Advanced algorithms, machine learning models, and real-time dashboards are increasingly used to predict patient inflows, ICU demand, and staffing needs. These tools allow hospitals to act before a crisis peaks, by reallocating resources, postponing elective procedures, or activating surge protocols early. It is important to notice that ESCORT builds on this evidence by focusing on how such digital tools can be integrated into everyday hospital operations, not just used during emergencies. Predictive models are most effective when they are local, transparent, and easy for clinicians and administrators to trust and use.

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Technology must work with people and values

However, technology alone is not enough. The review highlights ethical challenges that arise when resources are scarce: Who gets priority access to intensive care? How do we ensure fairness without overburdening healthcare workers? Successful hospitals separated clinical care from triage decisions, used clear ethical frameworks, and supported staff through team-based decision-making. ESCORT recognizes this human dimension by promoting systems that support—not replace—clinical judgment, and that embed ethical principles into emergency response planning.

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Real-world impact through collaboration

Across countries and healthcare settings, one lesson stands out: coordination saves lives. Hospitals that shared data, aligned policies, and worked across regions were more resilient during patient surges. ESCORT’s collaborative approach reflects this reality, by bringing together clinicians, technologists, and policymakers to design solutions that work across borders and systems.

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Looking ahead: building resilient emergency care
Preparing for the next crisis means moving from reactive responses to proactive planning. By combining predictive analytics, flexible workforce models, ethical governance, and cross-sector collaboration, healthcare systems can become more resilient. ESCORT contributes to this shift, helping ensure that innovation in emergency care translates into better outcomes for patients and safer working conditions for healthcare professionals.

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