Safe healthcare facilities: Their place and role in resilient cities

Abstract

Given that mankind has occasionally been exposed to the devastation of catastrophic proportions throughout its history (extreme weather events, natural disasters, bioterrorism, and pandemics are having an increased global impact), which are increasing in the 20 th century due to climate change, the risk reduction measures are being taken at the global level to reduce the severity of the consequences. Natural and technological disasters in the European countries have caused significant loss of life and damage to structures and infrastructure, which has led to the ratification of conventions at the world level in the field of disaster preparedness (Hyogo Framework for Action and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Management). Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are amongst those most jeopardized. The paper gives an overview of the methodology in the field of defining the resilience of healthcare facilities through determining the hospital safety index. Through the application of this and other methodologies in a case study conducted in Serbia, the paper examines the direct correlations between hospital safety index and climate change. Paper gives the results of hospital safety index calculation considering modules 2-4 and possibilities for the potential use of the module 1 (research on hazards) in separate evaluation.

Risk analysis and safety assessment of hospitals against disasters

“…[ 34 ] Nenković-Riznić et al have stated that due to the low impact of climatic disasters on hospital structures, more attention must be paid to nonstructural and functional components while studying these types of disasters and their effects on health facilities. [ 36 ] Morán-Rodríguez and Novelo-Casanova have pointed out in their research that having a single structure resistant to various types of disasters is not enough, and in the case of damage to nonstructural and functional components, the hospital fails to operate; therefore, all components must be taken into huge consideration. [ 4 ]…”

Mogućnost odgovara zdravstvenih ustanova na industrijske akcidente-primer zdravstvene ustanove u opštini Obrenovac

“…air pollution, structural collapses, food/water contamination, nuclear). [9], [12] Industrial hazards refer to regional and local hazard maps of industrial facilities or other hazard information and any past incidents involving industrial hazards, and rate the industrial hazard level for the health care facility location and potential contamination of the its systems. The health care facility should be prepared to respond to an emergency or disaster due to industrial hazards (based on exposure of the catchment population or the specialized role of this facility for the treatment of patients exposed to industrial hazards).…”

“…The check is carried out for basic group of criteria that are diversified into 2 forms: 1) general information on a hospital, and 2) safe hospital checklist, divided into 4 modules: Module 1: Hazards affecting the safety of the hospital and the role of the hospital in emergency and disaster management; Module 2: Structural safety; Module 3: Nonstructural safety; and Module 4: Emergency and disaster management. Each of the mentioned modules contains a set of questions for evaluation, whereby the risk is quantified based on the magnitude of impact on the safety of capacity of health care facilities and probability of risk occurrence [12].…”

A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations

“…To strengthen the disaster preparedness of HFs, tools and resources have been promoted that support the prioritization of interventions [ 5 ]. In the wake of this commitment, 168 United Nations Member States endorsed the Safe Hospital Initiative, committing to build new hospitals in a way that will guarantee continued and safe operation during disasters.…”