Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia's Disaster Preparedness Activation During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Communication Response and Mapping Against World Health Organization Hospital Disaster Preparedness in Pandemic Influenza Checklist Key Component Criteria
27 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2022
Abstract
Hospital Disaster Preparedness (HDP) is an important tool to protect the healthcare system from disasters such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This retrospective study analyzes HDP elements and the chronological timeline of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in disaster preparation and response activation communication during the pandemic. The communication was mapped against World Health Organization (WHO) HDP in Pandemic Influenza checklist (PIC) key component criteria (KCC). The communications were collected from internal and external domains. Then sorted and arranged in a timeline, table, histogram, analyzed and mapped against WHO HDP PIC KCC. From 2020 to 2021, 100 communication were released in USM – announcements (67), Standard Operating Procedures (22) and guidelines (11). Mapped against WHO HDP PIC KCC, the fulfilled with 59 (58.4%) of 101 specific KCCs. The communication involved were (i) hospital operation centre, (ii) communication, (iii) human resources, and (iv) hospital surveillance KCCs. Meanwhile, (v) logistics and management of supplies, including pharmaceuticals, (vi) hospital surge capacity, (vii) continuity of essential services and (viii) essential support services KCC are less covered. Hospital USM HDP communication begins in January 2020 and increased from March to November 2020, averaging 6.9 communication per month and decreasing to 1.4 per month in 2021. Disaster communications address and observe certain parts of the HDP PIC KCC. Unobservable criteria require other forms of information dissemination such as education, training, workshop, meeting, policy update, observations, drills, auditing, and surveying. Implementation and monitoring of HDP PIC KCC before the disaster is important to address vulnerability and resiliency.
Note:
Funding Information: MISSING
Declaration of Interests: MISSING
Ethics Approval Statement: The data permission to use was obtained from the institution that authorises its release and relevant authority which is required on a case-to-case basis. I would like to acknowledge Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia for granting permission to publish the information obtained.
Keywords: preparedness, Response, Communication, Hospital, pandemic
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