Wartime Mass Casualty Incident Plan Operation: Staff Experiences from a Civilian Hospital in Southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

OBJECTIVE

Hospital mass casualty incident (MCI) plans must be able to remain operational during wartime. This study examined the impact of the October 7, 2023, attacks on the activation and execution of an MCI protocol in a hospital in southern Israel.

METHODS

This qualitative study employed thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 19 Emergency Department (ED) staff members who worked on October 7, 2023. Interview questions were developed by the authors, based on their professional experiences as physicians, with input from personnel involved in the October 7, 2023, response. Thematic saturation was considered achieved when consecutive interviews yielded no new themes.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified. Threats to staff safety affected staff mobilization and prevented evacuation of patients from the ED. The prolonged and evolving nature of the attacks created unpredictability. Limited official information was partially compensated for through alternative information sources. Finally, a culture of frequent MCI drills contributed to maintaining patient flow and standards of care.

CONCLUSIONS

During wartime, MCI plans can remain effective by prioritizing staff safety and mitigating burnout. Information should be collected from multiple sources to compensate for uncertainty and limited situational awareness. Frequent, realistic drills help to maintain operational performance under the extreme stress of war.