A conceptual framework to assess hospitals for disaster risk reduction in the community

Abstract

Hospitals are socially critical institutions that provide essential healthcare services to save lives and promote human health. However, the potential of hospitals reducing preventable prehospital deaths in the community is unknown. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to assess hospitals for disaster risk reduction, not only to continue to provide essential healthcare services in crisis times, but also to manage community disaster resilience in normal times. We performed a systematic review of previous publications to examine the existing frameworks. Based on the review, we organized consensus meetings with experts and developed a comprehensive conceptual framework for hospitals after conducting a feasibility study in two hospitals. The components of the framework consist of (1) hospital business continuity plans (BCPs) inside hospitals (providing essential services and receiving assistance from unaffected areas) and (2) hospital management for disaster risk reduction outside hospitals (strengthening the healthcare coalition and promoting infrastructure and community management). This framework indicates how hospitals can proactively act as hub institutions during their daily operations for disaster risk reduction.