A novel operational protocol for the establishment of a medical facility for receiving returning hostages: structure, process and outcomes.

Background: On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the State of Israel and kidnapped 251 people into captivity to the Gaza Strip. Several months later, as part of a humanitarian exchange deal, 105 hostages were released in five phases and admitted to one of six hospitals throughout the country for treatment. Shamir Medical Center (SMC) was one of these facilities.

Resilience of hospital staff facing COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from Israel.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional burden on already strained healthcare systems worldwide, intensifying the responsibility and burden of healthcare workers. Although most hospital staff continued working during this stressful and challenging unprecedented pandemic, differences in the characteristics and attributes were noted between sectors and hospital departments. Israeli healthcare workers are trained and experienced in coping with national emergencies, but the pandemic has exposed variations in staff reactions.

Emergency department staff preparedness for mass casualty events involving children.

Background: In recent years, the World Health Organization in general, and Israel in particular, have dealt with mass casualty events (MCEs) resulting from terrorism. Children are the casualties in many of these events-a reality that forces hospitals to prepare to deal with such a scenario. A literature review designed to identify unique recommendations regarding pediatric MCEs highlights both a lack of existing training programs and uncertainty on the part of health care staff when dealing with these events.