Were our hospitals prepared to face the COVID-19 epidemic?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0566

Keywords:

COVID-19, epidemic, hospital preparedness, pandemic

Abstract

Background: The rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major challenge for hospitals, which plays a key role in local and national responses to different emergencies and disasters, including the outbreak of communicable diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the readiness of selected hospitals in one of the provinces of Iran in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Methods: In this descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional study, we used a checklist developed by the World Health Organization for the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the readiness of hospitals. We assessed and compared the readiness of four hospitals and used Microsoft Excel 2013® to collect and analyze the data.

Results: The present results showed that the hospital, which was the main referral center for COVID-19, was in good conditions. However, other hospitals needed to increase their preparedness for the COVID-19 epidemic.

Conclusion: Besides the importance of hospital readiness to respond to natural and man-made disasters, these institutions and health policymakers should be also prepared to respond properly to the outbreak of highly contagious diseases.

Author Biographies

Roohangiz Norouzinia, PhD

Assistant Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; School of Paramedical, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Sima Feizolahzadeh, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Prehospital Emergencies, School of Nursing, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Fatemeh Rahimi, BScN, MScN

Clinical Research Development Unit, Shahid Rajaei, Educational & Medical Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Maryam Aghabarary, PhD

Assistant Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Zahra Tayebi Myaneh, MSc

Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

References

Petrosillo NP, Di Caro A, Ippolito G: The initial hospital response to an epidemic. Arch Med Res. 2005; 36(6): 706-712. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.05.003.

Wu F, Zhao S, Yu B, et al.: A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China. Nature. 2020; 579(7798): 265-269. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2008-3.

Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al.: Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan China. Lancet. 2020; 395(10223): 497-506. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30183-5.

Takian A, Raoofi A, Kazempour-Ardebili S: COVID-19 battle during the toughest sanctions against Iran. Lancet. 2020; 395(10229): 1035-1036. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30668-1.

Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education COVID-19 daily epidemiology journal. News Code: 210431 (in Persian). Available at http://webda.behdasht.gov.ir/. Accessed July 7, 2020.

World Health Organization: Hospital preparedness for epidemics. 2014. Available at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/hospitalpreparedness-for-epidemics. Accessed April 4, 2014.

World Health Organization: Strengthening the health systems response to COVID-19: Technical guidance #2: Creating surge capacity for acute and intensive care, April 6, 2020. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe, 2020.

World Health Organization: Hospital emergency response checklist. 2011: 5. Available at https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/from-disaster-preparedness-and-response/publications/2011/hospital-emergency-response-checklist-2011. Accessed May 18, 2021.

MacLaren G, Fisher D, Brodie D: Preparing for the most critically ill patients with COVID-19: The potential role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. JAMA. 2020; 323(13): 1245-1246. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.2342.

Chopra V, Toner E, Waldhorn R, et al.: How should US hospitals prepare for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Am College Physicians. 2020; DOI: 10.7326/M20-0907.

Loutfy MR, Wallington T, Rutledge T, et al.: Hospital preparedness and SARS. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004; 10(5): 771-776. DOI: 10.3201/eid1005.030717.

Feizolahzadeh S, Vaezi A, Mirzaei M, et al.: Barriers and facilitators to provide continuity of care to dischargeable patients in disasters: A qualitative study. Injury. 2019; 50(4): 869-876. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2019.03.024.

Feizolahzadeh S, Vaezi A, Taheriniya A, et al.: The feasibility of increasing hospital surge capacity in disasters through early patient discharge. Bull Emerg Trauma. 2019; 7(2): 105-111. DOI: 10.29252/beat-070203.

Published

10/01/2021

How to Cite

Norouzinia, PhD, R., S. Feizolahzadeh, PhD, F. Rahimi, BScN, MScN, M. Aghabarary, PhD, and Z. T. Myaneh, MSc. “Were Our Hospitals Prepared to Face the COVID-19 Epidemic?”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 19, no. 7, Oct. 2021, pp. 151-6, doi:10.5055/jem.0566.