Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sophie van der Heijden, Alexandra Cassivi, Aljoscha Mayer, Simone Sandholz
Summary: This review aims to assess water supply and wastewater management in healthcare facilities in emergency settings and low-resource contexts. The results show that water supply is more discussed than wastewater management. In emergency preparedness, backup water storage tanks, additional pipelines, and underground wells are key sources for water supply. In emergency response, bottled water, in-situ backup water storage tanks, and tanker trucks are commonly used. However, questions regarding improving existing technologies, uptake, and alternative measures remain unanswered.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Victoria L. Walker, Anna Meyer, Deborah Paauw, Megan Arend
Summary: This study explores a health system approach for effectively and efficiently treating PALTC residents with monoclonal antibodies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show a median of 3 days between positive test and infusion in PALTC, with a total of 87 PALTC on-site monoclonal antibody infusions captured in the registry. Collaboration between health system executives and PALTC experts enabled quick access to potentially life-saving therapy for a vulnerable population.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Maisara A. Alrayyes, Basel H. Alaila, Mohammed Rezeq R. Aldalou, Norie Grace D. Omamalin
Summary: This study assessed the emergency preparedness of level-four Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in the Gaza Strip. The results showed that healthcare providers lacked competencies for emergency response, and many PHCCs lacked the infrastructure to support Primary Emergency Care (PEC). Continuous education and training in disaster preparedness and response and PEC are needed for healthcare providers.
PREHOSPITAL AND DISASTER MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Nursing
Yasir Almukhlifi, Gary Crowfoot, Amanda Wilson, Alison Hutton
Summary: The majority of emergency healthcare workers appear to have inadequate disaster preparedness, with those having previous disaster experience and training showing better preparedness. Regional variations were recorded, with high-income countries reporting a higher perceived preparedness for disasters than low-income countries. Future research should focus on interventions to improve emergency healthcare workers' preparedness for disasters.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rhiannon A. D. G. E. Blanchette, Egid M. van Bree, Joost J. L. M. Bierens
Summary: Despite having a good healthcare system, recent studies have shown that the Netherlands struggles with hospital disaster preparedness. The lack of formal requirements for hospital disaster preparedness plans and the evaluation framework in the country may be contributing factors. This study aimed to evaluate the preparedness of Dutch hospitals by using the WHO Hospital Emergency Response Checklist. Results showed that none of the participating hospitals achieved an effective preparedness score and there was a significant variability in the configuration of the studied plans.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Joyce Li, Arianne L. Baker, Gabrielle D'Ambrosi, Michael C. Monuteaux, Sarita Chung
Summary: This study utilizes survey and public health data to report the normal operating and surge capabilities of pediatric hospitals in Massachusetts, including subspecialty availability and critical care therapeutics. The findings show that the state's pediatric inpatient capacity is limited in a disaster scenario and that the majority of hospitals lack surgical subspecialists for children under any circumstance.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Barbara Plagg, Julia Ballmann, Michael Ewers
Summary: Providing and maintaining hospice and palliative care during disasters is challenging, and the integration of strategies to address these needs in disaster preparedness planning is insufficient.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Marie Lourdes Charles, Gretha Fievre
Summary: The program aimed to educate community leaders on training community members to respond to disasters. Through workshops covering emergency preparedness, water-borne diseases, and post-traumatic stress, the program successfully enhanced the disaster response capacity of the community residents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mariana Helou, Nour El Osta, Eric S. Weinstein
Summary: On August 4, 2020, a major explosion in Beirut resulted in severe damage to hospitals and overwhelmed emergency departments. The Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, located 2.8 km from the blast, faced numerous challenges in their disaster preparedness plan.
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
(2023)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Scott Chiossi, Svetla Tsolova, Massimo Ciotti
Summary: Assessing public health emergency preparedness involves a complex process with various limitations in current assessment approaches. The majority of assessments are implemented at national level, using mainly questionnaires/surveys, checklists, interviews/group discussions, and data extraction tools. Analysis methods include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, with assessment results often reported by listing gaps in preparedness or providing a preparedness score. Recommendations for improvement include specifying appropriate stakeholders, reaching consensus on preparedness standards, and reducing biases in assessment formats.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rupesh Naik, Nikki Maxwell, Terrance Jones, Stephanie Anne Dopson
Summary: This study analyzed AARs of public health preparedness programs, proposed a standardized analysis format, and identified six overarching themes.
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
John G. Richmond, Jeffrey Tochkin, Attila J. Hertelendy
Summary: The study conducted a nationwide survey of healthcare organizations in Canada to examine the prevalence and effectiveness of disaster preparedness activities enacted in preparation for COVID-19. The findings revealed variations in training and resources among organizations, with the presence of a single 'incident commander' and increased overall prevalence of activities positively impacting effectiveness. Recommendations were made for the establishment of a national health emergency preparedness system to bolster Canadian healthcare against future disasters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Joshua M. Sharfstein, Nicole Lurie
Summary: The task of preparedness is closely linked to the ongoing efforts in improving population health and ensuring health equity.
Article
Nursing
Zahra Chegini, Morteza Arab-Zozani, Edris Kakemam, Mojgan Lotfi, Afsaneh Nobakht, Hanieh Aziz Karkan
Summary: This study evaluated the levels of disaster core competencies and preparedness among nurses in the emergency department in six hospitals in Qazvin, Iran. The results showed that there are gaps in disaster preparedness and core competencies for emergency nurses, with communication skills being the lowest. Older nurses with disaster experience and less professional experience perceived better disaster core competencies.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
L. S. Kengne Kamga, A. C. G. Voordouw, M. C. de Vries, E. Belfroid, M. Koopmans, A. Timen
Summary: This systematic review aimed to identify the sectors mentioned in the literature on public health emergency preparedness and response (PHEPR) and map their involvement in the seven domains of the PHEPR cycle. The results revealed that collaboration and involvement of sectors in PHEPR are primarily limited to a few sectors, indicating a need for broader collaboration with more partners during preparedness and response.