THE 24X7 COMMAND CENTER: ANALYZING THE ROLE OF THE CONTROL ROOM IN ADMINISTRATIVE, LOGISTICAL, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH INDIA

Abstract: Hospital Administration Control Room (CR) is the critical nerve center for operational resilience and patient safety in a high-acuity, public sector tertiary care hospital. This descriptive and observational study analyzed administrative and logistical challenges logged in the Control Room of Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) over a three-month period (May–July 2025). We systematically categorized and quantified 2,414 daily operational issues, revealing the high frequency and diverse nature of challenges managed. Key findings highlight bed management as the most frequent issue, alongside a substantial volume of incident reports and patient/attendant complaints. Crucially, the CR demonstrated its indispensable function as a scalable command system by successfully executing major disaster preparedness and mass gathering support protocols. The study validates the CR's role as a vital, round-the-clock administrative hub essential for maintaining clinical flow and institutional stability.