Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Response in Queensland Emergency Services: A Multisite Study

Area of Science:

• Disaster Medicine
• Public Health Preparedness
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Limited research exists on Australian hospitals' capacity to manage chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) disasters.
• Disasters can overwhelm normal healthcare service operations, necessitating robust emergency response plans.
• Tertiary and rural hospitals play a critical role in disaster response within Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current disaster preparedness and response capacity of Queensland hospitals for CBRN events.
• To identify specific areas of strength and weakness in hospital surge capacity (physical and human) during disasters.
• To provide data-driven recommendations for improving hospital readiness for CBRN incidents.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive quantitative study was conducted using a 25-item survey.
• The study surveyed clinical leaders responsible for disaster preparedness in 6 Queensland hospitals (5 tertiary, 1 rural).
• Survey data covered current response capacity, physical surge capacity, and human surge capacity for CBRN disasters and were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Main Results:

• Hospitals reached operational capacity an average of 66 times in the past year, with significant variation in bed surge capacity.
• Only 2 hospitals reported specific CBRN disaster training, and 3 had adequate hazardous materials personal protective equipment.
• A notable deficiency was identified in the capacity to respond to radiological disasters across all surveyed hospitals.

Conclusions:

• Queensland hospitals demonstrate areas for improvement in CBRN disaster response and surge capacity compared to international benchmarks.
• Prioritizing CBRN-focused education and evidence-based training is essential for enhancing hospital preparedness.
• Strengthening hospital capacity is vital for effective public health response during disaster events.