Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2025

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Dr. Sharon Meaker-Medcalf

Second Committee Member

Dr. Rachel Lookadoo

Third Committee Member

Mrs. Leslie Scofield

Abstract

Objective

Substantial investments have been made in hospital emergency preparedness. The Hospital Medical Surge Preparedness Index (HMSPI) has been proposed as a metric to assess health system readiness. This index summarizes hospital system characteristics, space and facilities, staff availability, and supply planning.

Methods

The primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between the HMSPI and characteristics of the respective hospitals, including size, type, location, performance on the Hospital Resilience Index (HRI), and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

Results

Higher HMSPI scores were found in suburban compared to rural hospitals, a higher HMSPI in larger hospitals with greater patient volumes and capacity (43.2 [42,44]) versus medium (26 [25,27]) and small (18 [17,19]) hospitals, and teaching status (29 [28,30]) versus non-teaching status (25 [25,26]). Investor-related hospitals and those caring for more patients with Medicare/Medicaid coverage had a lower HMSPI.

Conclusions

In conclusion, hospital medical surge preparedness is unevenly distributed across the U.S. healthcare system, with larger, non-for-profit, and teaching institutions having higher preparedness scores on the HMSPI, while a greater percentage of patients cared for who are covered by Medicare / Medicaid is linked to lower scores.

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