Collaboration on the Arizona Surge Line: How Covid-19 Became the Impetus for Public, Private, and Federal Hospitals to Function as One System

To address the anticipated hospital surge due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a single statewide system was developed to expedite patient transfers and equitably distribute patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 across hospitals. The effort, featuring a 24/7 call line, was initiated by the Arizona Department of Health Services and collaboratively protocolized with health care system leadership. This system has facilitated the transfer of thousands of patients with Covid-19 across public and private hospitals.