In the fast-paced realm of emergency medicine and healthcare services, the demand for rapid and efficient responses to crises is ever-growing. With escalating complexities and frequencies of emergencies, the need for robust organizational readiness has never been more crucial. This urgency is precisely what drives the aim of Work Package 2 (WP2) of the ESCORT project, which is actively running, to undertake an organizational review of operational readiness among health and care providers/professionals. Specifically targeting the unplanned hospital surge resulting from external factors such as natural disasters and pandemics, the activities of the WP2 encompass a multifaceted approach. These include the development of demand forecast models based on historical healthcare records, followed by comprehensive assessments of capacity planning for regular health and care services. Moreover, the WP endeavors to establish stakeholder consultations, fostering co-design and co-production of health and care services to enhance preparedness. Through systematic reviews of user requirements and evaluations of current training levels within the health and care sector for utilizing digital tools and services, the WP seeks to fortify the resilience and responsiveness of emergency medical services.

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In the ESCORT project, we are conducting a thorough examination of historical data from six countries - Greece, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, and Israel - aiming to map the unplanned hospital surge against the capacity for delivering high-quality care to patients. In the ESCORT project, we aim to understand the patterns of demand and capacity, and provide insights into opportunities for enhancing the management of hospital surge scenarios, ultimately improving emergency medical services' responsiveness. On top of that, we aim to assess the quality of regular health and care services delivered to patients, ensuring their uninterrupted access to essential healthcare even during crisis situations.

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In conclusion, these initiatives underscore the critical importance of organizational readiness in effectively addressing the dynamic challenges faced by emergency medical services. Through initiatives like those undertaken by the ESCORT project, we expect to gain invaluable insights into the complexities of managing hospital surge scenarios and ensuring high-quality care delivery during emergencies. As the health sectors across the world face many challenges, the integration of AI-based solutions like ESCORT offers promising avenues for enhancing preparedness and optimizing emergency response strategies. In ESCORT, we believe that we can build a healthcare system that is prepared, adaptive, and capable of rising to any challenge that comes its way.