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Hospital Disaster Preparedness as Measured by Functional Capacity: a Comparison between Iran and Sweden

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2013

Ahmadreza Djalali ,
Maaret Castren ,
Hamidreza Khankeh ,
Dan Gryth ,
Monica Radestad ,
Gunnar Öhlen  and
Lisa Kurland
Ahmadreza Djalali*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden CRIMEDIM - Center for Research and Education in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
Maaret Castren
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences and Education and Section of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Hamidreza Khankeh
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden Nursing Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran
Dan Gryth
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Section of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Monica Radestad
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences and Education and Section of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Gunnar Öhlen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Lisa Kurland
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences and Education and Section of Emergency Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Correspondence: Ahmadreza Djalali, MD, EMDM, PhD CRIMEDIM - Center for Research and Education in Emergency and Disaster Medicine Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale Via Lanino 1 28100 Novara, Italy E-mail arj6976@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction

Hospitals are expected to continue to provide medical care during disasters. However, they often fail to function under these circumstances. Vulnerability to disasters has been shown to be related to the socioeconomic level of a country. This study compares hospital preparedness, as measured by functional capacity, between Iran and Sweden.

Methods

Hospital affiliation and size, and type of hazards, were compared between Iran and Sweden. The functional capacity was evaluated and calculated using the Hospital Safety Index (HSI) from the World Health Organization. The level and value of each element was determined, in consensus, by a group of evaluators. The sum of the elements for each sub-module led to a total sum, in turn, categorizing the functional capacity into one of three categories: A) functional; B) at risk; or C) inadequate.

Results

The Swedish hospitals (n = 4) were all level A, while the Iranian hospitals (n = 5) were all categorized as level B, with respect to functional capacity. A lack of contingency plans and the availability of resources were weaknesses of hospital preparedness. There was no association between the level of hospital preparedness and hospital affiliation or size for either country.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the level of hospital preparedness, as measured by functional capacity, is related to the socioeconomic level of the country. The challenge is therefore to enhance hospital preparedness in countries with a weaker economy, since all hospitals need to be prepared for a disaster. There is also room for improvement in more affluent countries.

DjalaliA, CastrenM, KhankehH, GrythD, RadestadM, OhlenG, KurlandL. Hospital Disaster Preparedness as Measured by Functional Capacity: a Comparison between Iran and Sweden. Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(5):1-8.

Keywords

disasterfunctional capacityhospital preparednesssafety
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 5 , October 2013 , pp. 454 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2013 

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