TY - JOUR
T1 - Current Perspectives and Concerns Facing Hospital Evacuation
T2 - The Results of a Pilot Study and Literature Review
AU - Khorram-Manesh, Amir
AU - Phattharapornjaroen, Phatthranit
AU - Mortelmans, Luc J.
AU - Goniewicz, Krzysztof
AU - Verheul, Marlous
AU - Sörensen, Jarle L.
AU - Pereira, Irene
AU - Ricklin, Meret E.
AU - Faccincani, Roberto
AU - Dark, Paul M.
AU - Carlström, Eric
AU - Ahmadi Marzaleh, Milad
AU - Peyravi, Mahmoud Reza
AU - Al Sultan, Mohammed
AU - Santamaria, Emelia
AU - Comandante, John David
AU - Burkle, Frederick
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objective: To analyze the evacuation preparedness of hospitals within the European Union (EU). Method: This study consisted of 2 steps. In the first step, a systematic review of the subject matter, according to the PRISMA flow diagram, was performed. Using Scopus (Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands), PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), and Gothenburg Universitýs search engine, 11 questions were extracted from the review and were sent to representatives from 15 European Union (EU)- A nd non-EU countries. Results: The findings indicate that there is neither a full preparedness nor a standard guideline for evacuation within the EU or other non-EU countries in this study. A major shortcoming revealed by this study is the lack of awareness of the untoward consequences of medical decision-making during an evacuation. Some countries did not respond to the questions due to the lack of relevant guidelines, instructions, or time. Conclusion: Hospitals are exposed to internal and external incidents and require an adequate evacuation plan. Despite many publications, reports, and conclusions on successful and unsuccessful evacuation, there is still no common guide for evacuation, and many hospitals lack the proper preparedness. There is a need for a multinational collaboration, specifically within the EU, to establish such an evacuation planning or guideline to be used mutually within the union and the international community.
AB - Objective: To analyze the evacuation preparedness of hospitals within the European Union (EU). Method: This study consisted of 2 steps. In the first step, a systematic review of the subject matter, according to the PRISMA flow diagram, was performed. Using Scopus (Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands), PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), and Gothenburg Universitýs search engine, 11 questions were extracted from the review and were sent to representatives from 15 European Union (EU)- A nd non-EU countries. Results: The findings indicate that there is neither a full preparedness nor a standard guideline for evacuation within the EU or other non-EU countries in this study. A major shortcoming revealed by this study is the lack of awareness of the untoward consequences of medical decision-making during an evacuation. Some countries did not respond to the questions due to the lack of relevant guidelines, instructions, or time. Conclusion: Hospitals are exposed to internal and external incidents and require an adequate evacuation plan. Despite many publications, reports, and conclusions on successful and unsuccessful evacuation, there is still no common guide for evacuation, and many hospitals lack the proper preparedness. There is a need for a multinational collaboration, specifically within the EU, to establish such an evacuation planning or guideline to be used mutually within the union and the international community.
KW - Keywords:
KW - disaster planning guidelines
KW - emergency services
KW - hospital evacuation
KW - surge capacity
KW - triage
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85100384012&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/dmp.2020.391
DO - 10.1017/dmp.2020.391
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33531099
AN - SCOPUS:85100384012
SN - 1935-7893
JO - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
JF - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
ER -