Breaking Down Silos Within a Multihospital System: Lessons From the California Department of State Hospitals' Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This article focuses on the collaborative efforts between the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to develop and implement infection control programs across five inpatient psychiatric hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to February 2023. The study describes a coordinated response involving layered interventions such as activation of unified hospital command systems, widespread testing including rapid antigen testing, vaccination campaigns, therapeutic treatments, and comprehensive communication strategies to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission among a vulnerable patient population with high rates of medical risk factors. Findings indicate that these combined measures, supported by ongoing partnerships with public health experts, contributed to reduced COVID-19 case rates and outbreak severity within the psychiatric hospital system. The article suggests that these strategies may serve as a model for managing infectious disease outbreaks in other congregate care settings.