A framework for post-earthquake rapid damage assessment of hospitals. Case study: Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital (Tehran, Iran)

Abstract

Due to Iran's position in a seismic-prone region, the county is always at risk of earthquakes with potentially catastrophic results. Given earthquakes' potential for devastation, hospitals are among the main critical facilities that should be active continuously after an earthquake in order to provide necessary emergency services. In order to access the sufficiency of hospital services after an earthquake, and to reduce potential casualties due to subsequent effects, it is necessary to evaluate both structural and non-structural damage. In this article, methods of damage evaluation applicable to hospitals are reviewed and a summary of hospital damage that has been observed from previous earthquakes is provided. It concludes by proposing a new structure to support the continuity of hospital operations after an earthquake. This new approach is a framework for damage evaluation of hospitals including objectives, responsibilities, action time and operational criteria that covers structural and non-structural components (e.g. architectural, medical equipment and lifeline facilities). This new method, when used with human resources management, establishes primary roles in a prescriptive emergency recovery plan. The proposed framework was applied to Rasoul-e-Akram General Hospital in Tehran (Iran) as a case study. The results can be generalized to other hospitals in Iran and neighboring countries with similar construction and seismic conditions.