Heidaranlu, E; Tavan, A and Aminizadeh, M (2022) Investigating the level of functional preparedness of selected Tehran hospitals in the face of biological events: A focus on COVID-19. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 13(2), pp. 150-162. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the functional readiness of selected hospitals in Tehran in the face of biological events focusing on the Coronavirus. Design/methodology/approach: The current study is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study, with the research population consisting of four hospitals in Tehran (Ministry of Health, Social Security, Azad and Military University). This study used data collection tools, standardized functional preparedness tools for hospitals using a biological approach and a standardized checklist of biological event preparations for the American Hospital Association. Interviews with the incident and disaster committee director and observation of each hospital’s existing documents, were used to collect data, which was then analyzed using SPSS-16 software. Findings: According to the results, the average percentage of total hospital preparedness in biological events is 36.9%. With 53.3%, the selected military hospital has the most preparation, whereas the Ministry of Health has the lowest preparation with 28.3%. Surge capacity management and communication had the most remarkable preparedness rate of 68.75% (adequate preparedness), biological consultants, meeting management and post-disaster recovery had the lowest preparedness rate of 0% (extremely weak preparedness). Practical implications: The average functional preparedness of selected hospitals in Tehran was assessed at an insufficient level in this study. Given the recurrence of disease waves, these results are helpful in increasing hospital preparedness for impending events. Improving preparedness in most areas, especially in post-disaster recovery seems necessary. Originality/value: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to assess hospitals' readiness to increase capacity and respond to this scourge. Few studies have been done in this field in the world. This study investigates this issue in the capital of Iran. The finding of this study suggest authorities' attention to this issue and the creation of severe and prompt solutions and measures and the use of military hospital experiences to improve biological threat preparedness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | biological event; biological threats; COVID-19; disaster response; functional preparedness; hospital preparedness |
| Index terms: | interview, COVID-19, face, documents, population, methodology, disaster response, pandemic, Tehran, coronavirus, post-disaster recovery |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, psychology, professional development, Geography, research methods, post-disaster and reconstruction, health risk and incident analysis, health conditions and diseases, emergency and crisis management, demography |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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