Coordination and modularization: the experience of the joint prevention and control mechanism to COVID emergencies in China.

Background: The integration of disparate emergency resources and the improvement of emergency response teamwork are the underlying trends and shared requirements for building resilience in an era of multiple global public health crises.

Objective: This study investigated the emergency response with emergency collaboration networks of each functional module and the overall Joint Epidemic Prevention and Control Mechanism (JPCM) network in China's COVID outbreak prevention and control.

Methods: The study employed a scholarly framework of to explore the attributes of JPCM using social network analysis. The data were obtained from administrative records from JPCM's official website, spanning January 2020 to December 2022.

Results: The study examined the JPCM coordination and found several functional working modules of JPCM, such as Interrupt Spread, Manage Supply, Medical Rescue, Restore Work and Production, and Implement Responsibility modules. The network structure indicators showed that the Manage Supply module had the most extensive network connectivity, the shortest communication distance, and the most consistent collaboration. The E-I index of the overall JPCM network and the Manage Supply network were - 0.192 and - 0.452, respectively (at  < 0.001 and  < 0.05), indicating more internal relationships than external relationships. The E-I index of the Medical Rescue and Implement Responsibility collaboration networks were 0.122 and 0.147, respectively (at  < 0.001 and  < 0.05), indicating more external relationships than internal relationships. The QAP regression analysis showed that the most vital driver on the overall JPCM network was the Interrupt Spread module, followed by the Implement Responsibility and Medical Rescue modules.

Discussion: The Interrupt Spread module initiated emergency coordination with most departments and agencies. The Manage Supply module ensured the flow of medical supplies and survival essentials, while the Medical Rescue module addressed the core aspects of the health emergency response. The Restore Work and Production module repaired the halt in production and livelihoods caused by the outbreak, strengthening and developing emergency coordination and roles across emergency organizations. The Implement Responsibility module provided more heterogeneous emergency response resources for the overall JPCM coordination, complementing the COVID cross-organizational emergency response coordination.

Conclusion: The study on the JPCM case in China improves public health emergency management and aids informed decision-making.