Evaluating the Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies using WHO Hospital Safety Index Tool.

Area of Science:

• Disaster medicine
• Public health preparedness
• Healthcare management

Background:

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) events pose unique contamination and health risks, necessitating specialized hospital preparedness.
• Effective response to CBRN emergencies requires institutions to have robust and well-placed response plans.
• Assessing hospital readiness for CBRN events is crucial for public safety and effective disaster management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the existence and implementation of hospital response plans specifically for CBRN events.
• To determine the level of emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities facing potential CBRN incidents.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2021.
• Data was collected from two tertiary-level public healthcare facilities using the World Health Organization (WHO) Hospital Safety Index Tool, a 151-item checklist.
• The WHO Hospital Safety Index Tool, comprising four modules, was utilized to calculate the hospital safety index using Model-1.

Main Results:

• Both healthcare facilities achieved a 'Category A' rating (0.66-1) based on the weighted results of the three modules assessed.
• The findings indicate a high likelihood that these hospitals can maintain functionality during emergencies and disasters.
• The evaluation using the WHO Hospital Safety Index Tool showed satisfactory results for emergency preparedness in both institutions.

Conclusions:

• The study concluded that both hospitals possess satisfactory emergency preparedness levels for CBRN events.
• The implementation of the WHO Hospital Safety Index Tool confirmed the adequacy of the hospitals' response capabilities.
• These findings suggest a positive outlook for hospital resilience in the face of large-scale CBRN disasters.