Operational readiness plan at hospital unit level for Natural and Technological Hazards

Postgraduate Thesis uoadl:1332514 1613 Read counter

Unit:
Library of the School of Science
Κατεύθυνση Στρατηγικές Διαχείρισης Καταστροφών και Κρίσεων
ΠΜΣ Στρατηγικές Διαχείρισης Περιβάλλοντος, Καταστροφών και Κρίσεων
Deposit date:
2017-03-06
Year:
2017
Author:
Γκίκα Δήμητρα
Supervisors info:
Δρ. Σ. Λόζιος,
Επικ. Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Ν. Βούλγαρης,
Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Ε. Λέκκας,
Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Σχέδιο Επιχειρησιακής ετοιμότητας σε επίπεδο Νοσοκομειακής Μονάδας για την αντιμετώπιση φυσικών και τεχνολογικών κινδύνων
Languages:
Greek
Translated title:
Operational readiness plan at hospital unit level for Natural and Technological Hazards
Summary:
The likelihood of dealing with emergency situations that result from natural, technological, and man-made disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, epidemics, and terrorist attacks, is constantly growing for any society on a global level with major consequences on all aspects of human life. Civil Protection Authority, on both a national and international level, constitutes a key mechanism that can ensure a swift and effective response to the immediate consequences of disasters. The problem of disasters is heightened considerably when the premises of a hospital unit are partially or totally affected. The consequences of a potential disaster may affect not only the Hospital itself but also its surroundings. To deal with a mass disaster, the medical services that are required are demanding and they should be fully coordinated in order not only to respond to the crisis but also to restore the operating conditions of the Hospital to the level they were before the incident took place the soonest possible. Due to the complexity and severity of the hazards and their impact, operational preparedness and response are required both on a Hospital level as well as on the part of the State organizations and the society overall.
The goals of the present paper are:
• To study the Greek legislation with regard to Civil Protection, focusing on the basic laws that are currently in effect.
• To study the operational preparedness of Health units based on the present legislation, its evolution, and the analysis of the main specialized operational plans that the National Center of Health Operations of the Ministry of Health has elaborated for dealing with contingencies.
• To study the application and enhancement-improvement of the specialized operational plans applied by the “ALEXANDRA” General Hospital of Athens in case of emergency situations.
In order to meet the goals of this paper, the following procedures were taken:
a) The legislation presently in effect was studied in terms of planning, organizing and coordinating the Civil Protection of the country, with regard to planning the policy that will be followed in case of potential disasters and the key points of the establishing legislative acts that are currently applicable were highlighted.
b) The existing legislative framework that contributed significantly to the improvement and modernization of the National Health System during the recent years was analyzed. In addition, the issue of crisis management within the context of the Hospital unit as well as the need for the existence of specialized Action Plans to deal with emergency situations were explored. Moreover, reference was made to the main Emergency Plans, with distinctive names such as “FILOKTITIS”: Operational Plan to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, “PERSEAS”: Operational Plan to deal with Contingencies in the hospitals of the National Health System, “SOSTRATOS”: Operational Plan to deal with earthquakes, “ARTEMIS”: National Operational Plan to deal with an influenza Pandemic, “ATHENA”: Action Plan to deal with the Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
c) The hierarchical structure and constitution of the Medical, Nursing and Administrative services of the “Alexandra” General Hospital of Athens was studied, and a description-illustration and visualization of land-use planning of the services of the Hospital was performed in diagrams – floor plans as per each area-floor that accommodates them. For the visualization and detailed description of the uses and services, different colors and symbols were used. In order to distinguish the different uses, various factors were taken into consideration, such as that: 1) the various areas have different uses that embrace several multi-task operations and are characterized by a different degree of risk, 2) a large number of staff, Medical, Nursing, and Administrative, work, and in case of on-call service, stay in the areas of the Hospital on a daily basis, with different duties and responsibilities, 3) a large number of patients in need of different Medical Treatment, either move within or stay in the Hospital, and 4) a significant number of escorts either move within or stay in the Hospital for long hours.
The results of this paper constitute in the recommendations for measures that can be implemented at the “Alexandra” General Hospital of Athens, with the purpose of improving its operational preparedness and response to contingencies. These measures are distinguished into measures that can be put forward through an Administrative, Technical, or Financial approach concerning Operational preparedness of the Hospital. After reviewing the already existing contingency management measures the following additional measures are proposed:
A. Administrative measures:
1. briefing and special training of the competent employees
2. proficient knowledge and skills acquired by the workforce
3. implementation of preparedness drills
4. regular monitoring of the suitability of staff in charge of action and implementation of operational contingency plans
5. timely planning, scheduling and sound organization
6. allocation of responsibilities and specialization of employees
7. electronic Databases for recording the staff and patients to be kept in places outside the Hospital
8. exploring the possible Relocation of the Hospital to neighboring or other Hospitals or sites in case this has not been provided for
Β. Technical measures:
1. auxiliary emergency staircases (escape exits) which should be easily accessible and open. In addition, the exit of people should not be obstructed by objects that block the way.
2. designation of specific escape areas in case of a possible evacuation of the Hospital, if this has not been provided for
3. frequent inspection and preventive maintenance of engineering equipment, such as elevators and boiler rooms, and monitoring – inspection as to whether regulations are adhered to, measuring specific essential data etc.
4. installation of illuminated signs that will direct employees, patients, or visitors to the escape exits
5. establishment of alternative ways leading to escape-emergency exits
6. provision for adequate rescue equipment
7. existence of special portable hand-held high-security devices to ensure communication with agencies involved in the field of action
8. existence of an informative leaflet that will illustrate details on the evacuation of the building and the means to be used for escape through the shortest and safest route
C. Financial measures:
1. establishment of reserves by the organization, in the form of funds or merchandise, to be used in order to deal with any emergencies.
2. ensuring and making available credits from the financial budget of the Hospital for the management of contingencies and at the same time prompt adjustment of the Hospital in line with the operational plans of the Ministry of Health.
In conclusion, it is established that in emergency situations, the smooth operation of a Hospital is of utmost importance to the society and its people. Despite the fact that several Hospitals have configured plans to deal with contingencies based on the standards that have been drawn up by the competent services of the Ministry of Health, the capacity to implement such plans requires training, the existence of financial resources for the implementation of the plans, and the coordination of the agencies involved on a local, national and occasionally, international level. The ultimate goal of actions intended for crisis management is not only to better deal with emergency situations but also minimize the possible impact and restore the Hospital quickly to the context of its smooth operation.
Main subject category:
Natural disasters
Other subject categories:
Κλινικές - Νοσοκομεία
Keywords:
Civil Protection, Operational Preparedness, Hospital Unit, Operational Contingency Plans
Index:
No
Number of index pages:
0
Contains images:
Yes
Number of references:
34
Number of pages:
65
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