Work

Rural hospital incident command leaders’ perceptions of disaster preparedness

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recent trends indicate that the frequency of major incidents (MIs) is increasing. Healthcare systems are vital actors in societies' responses to MIs. Well-prepared healthcare systems may mitigate the effects of MIs. Disaster preparedness is based on region-specific risk and vulnerability analyses (RVAs). Hospital incident command groups (HICGs) are commonly formed per hospital's contingency plan MI to aid in disaster response. Acquiring situational awareness and decision-making in the face of uncertainty are known challenges for HICGs during MIs. However, the remoteness of rural hospitals presents unique challenges. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore HICG leaders' perceptions of disaster preparedness in rural hospitals. METHODS: A qualitative study with semi-structured, focus group, and individual interviews was used. The data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis generated the main category, HICGs' confidence in handling major incidents and four categories. These were Uncertainty and level of recognition (containing two subcategories); Awareness of challenges and risks (containing two subcategories); Factors that facilitate preparedness, response, and leadership (containing three subcategories); and Prerequisites for decision-making (containing three subcategories and four subcategories). CONCLUSIONS: HICG leaders generally perceived their hospital's disaster preparedness as adequate. However, preparedness was found to be influenced by several factors. The findings revealed a complex interplay of factors influencing preparedness and response, particularly highlighting challenges related to geographical isolation and resource constraints. Effective preparedness requires a comprehensive understanding of local contexts, hospital capabilities, and risks, which directly impacts training, decision-making, and resource allocation. Addressing the identified vulnerabilities necessitates targeted interventions focused on situational awareness, decision-making, collaboration, and training. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Source: BMC Emergency Medicine

DOI: 10.1186/s12873-025-01201-3

Authors: Jason P. Murphy, Clara Bergström, Lina Gyllencruetz

Institutions: Röda Korsets Högskola, Umeå University

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Response and Management

Subfield: Emergency Medical Services

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,790