Smart healthcare in mobile hospitals: enhancing response to Disease X

Abstract

Background: Scientific and technological advancements have significantly augmented our capacity to comprehend and manage "Disease X," while improving the efficiency and accuracy of outbreak management. Infectious disease prevention and control technology is advancing toward unmanned and intelligent methods, shifting from a traditional reactive response to public health emergencies to a more proactive and efficient outbreak management mechanism. This study aims to investigate the intelligent transformation of mobile hospitals, with the objective of bolstering their emergency response capabilities and fortifying their prevention and control strategies for unknown infectious diseases. This, in turn, seeks to mitigate the spread of epidemics and protect public health.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 10 experts were conducted. A framework analysis was used to organize the interview results and distill the experts' overall views on the smart building of mobile hospitals.

Results: The smart transformation of mobile hospitals plays a crucial role in responding to public health emergencies. The overall status of mobile hospitals is analyzed through five key dimensions: role and significance, characteristics, challenges, necessity and feasibility, and influencing factors.

Conclusion: When confronting public health emergencies, mobile hospitals offer significant advantages over traditional medical institutions. In addressing "Disease X," the intelligent transformation of these mobile hospitals is in accordance with contemporary trends, facilitating swift epidemic responses, precise patient management, efficient resource allocation, and improved adaptability to diverse environments and service demands. It is crucial for building a sustainable biosafety system.

Keywords: Disease X; Mobile hospital; Response; Smart healthcare.