Emergency preparedness: Interviews with senior leadership in Nebraska hospitals

Shreya Roy, PhD; Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, PhD; Sharon Medcalf, PhD; Harlan Sayles, MS; Wael ElRayes, MD, PhD, FACHE; Jeanne S. Ringel, PhD; Ronald J. Shope, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2020.0488

Authors

Shreya Roy, PhD
Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, PhD
Sharon Medcalf, PhD
Harlan Sayles, MS
Wael ElRayes, MD, PhD, FACHE
Jeanne S. Ringel, PhD
Ronald J. Shope, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2020.0488

Keywords:

hospital, emergency, preparedness, rural, Nebraska, qualitative, grounded theory

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of senior leadership in hospitals on the motivations, cost, benefits, barriers, and facilitators of investment in emergency preparedness.

Study design: This is a qualitative study which used a grounded theory approach to develop a theory of hospital emergency preparedness.

Setting and study participants: A purposive sample of hospital leaders (n = 11) in the US state of Nebraska were interviewed.

Results: Results showed that the environmental risk associated with the hospital location, the hospital’s position in the community, and the preparedness requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services contribute to investment decisions. Rural hospitals face unique challenges in preparing for disasters, for example, lack of trained personnel. Facilitators of disaster preparedness include the availability of federal funds, the commitment of leadership, and an organizational mission aligned toward emergency preparedness. Hospitals invest in hazard vulnerability assessments; partnerships with other organizations in the community; staff trainings and infrastructure.

Conclusions: The authors concluded that hospitals in Nebraska are committed toward investing in preparedness activities. The theory of hospital emergency preparedness developed will be used in a subsequent study to develop a decision-support framework for hospital investment in preparedness.

Author Biographies

Shreya Roy, PhD

Research Associate, Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (OCCYSHN); Student, Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, UNMC, Omaha, Nebraska

Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska

Sharon Medcalf, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Director, Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Harlan Sayles, MS

Statistician III, Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Wael ElRayes, MD, PhD, FACHE

Instructor, Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Program Manager, Training, Simulation & Quarantine Center (TSQC), University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Jeanne S. Ringel, PhD

Director, Access and Delivery Program, Health Care Division, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California; Senior Economist, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California

Ronald J. Shope, PhD

Education Researcher, Interprofessional Academy of Educators, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

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