On September 18, the KnowEMS consortium convened a webinar focused on the lessons learned from managing health workforce surges during the crisis — highlighting how agility, innovation, and inter-sectoral cooperation shaped effective responses.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a defining moment for health systems worldwide, not only because of its clinical demands but due to the unprecedented "human surge" required to sustain care under extreme pressure. On September 18, the KnowEMS consortium convened a webinar focused on the lessons learned from managing health workforce surges during the crisis — highlighting how agility, innovation, and inter-sectoral cooperation shaped effective responses.
The session featured contributions from three key speakers:
A central message throughout the webinar was clear: "surge" isn’t just about increasing numbers — it’s about creating systems that support people to do their jobs under pressure.
Speakers emphasized that while emergency health personnel are inherently agile and adaptable, success during COVID-19 relied on preparation, leadership, and flexible support mechanisms. In Israel, for example, innovative solutions such as emergency daycare for frontline staff helped keep teams operational when standard facilities were shut down.
Cooperation across health systems, public services, and even non-traditional partners like penitentiary systems was crucial.
Presenters agreed: inter-agency relationships and trust must be built in advance, not improvised mid-crisis.
Another key theme was the value of structured preparedness models that allow health systems to anticipate and scale human resources quickly. This includes:
SAMUR–Protección Civil credited its existing CBRN training and the Israeli Ministry of Health its conflict contingency protocols as key enablers of their rapid and effective pandemic response.
These surge efforts had a direct impact on pandemic outcomes. By strengthening out-of-hospital care for moderate COVID-19 cases, health systems were able to preserve hospital resources for the most critical patients.
The results reaffirmed that effective health emergency response is not limited by job titles or bureaucratic roles. As one speaker aptly stated:
"Responding to a health emergency isn’t about your job description — it’s about what has to be done."
One of the most emphasized lessons: open, transparent, and continuous communication with frontline personnel. Leaders must not only inform, but listen — adjusting strategies in real time based on the needs and feedback of those directly facing the crisis.
The Human Surge webinar made it clear: people are the most critical asset in any health emergency — but they must be supported, equipped, and trusted.
Through cross-border knowledge-sharing and best practice exchange, the KnowEMS project continues to help EMS and health systems across Europe and beyond prepare for the future — whatever challenges it may bring.