Hazard Vulnerabilities Analysis in the Low-Resourced Global Setting.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare preparedness
• Global health security
• Hospital management

Background:

• Hazard Vulnerabilities Analysis (HVA) is crucial for hospital credentialing in the US.
• Limited literature exists on HVA implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Major referral hospitals in LMICs face unique challenges in threat identification and preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the feasibility and process of conducting an HVA in an LMIC setting.
• To adapt an existing HVA template for local needs and resources.
• To develop a framework for addressing hospital threats in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between American and local Ethiopian physicians and hospital staff.
• Adaptation of the Kaiser HVA template for the Ethiopian context.
• Systematic identification and discussion of potential threats to hospital operations and patient care.

Main Results:

• The adapted HVA facilitated rich discussions and framework development for local threats.
• Identified threats included sub-acute/chronic issues with potential for acute worsening.
• Hospital staff demonstrated resilience in addressing ongoing threats creatively.
• The HVA framework improved future preparedness for the hospital.

Conclusions:

• Conducting HVAs in LMIC settings is feasible and beneficial.
• The Ethiopian hospital's experience provides a model for other LMICs.
• Adapting HVA tools is essential for effective implementation in diverse resource settings.
• HVAs enhance hospital resilience and preparedness in resource-limited environments.