TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving Hospital Mass Casualty Preparedness Through Ongoing Readiness Evaluation
AU - Adini, Bruria
AU - Laor, Daniel
AU - Hornik-Lurie, Tzipora
AU - Schwartz, Dagan
AU - Aharonson-Daniel, Limor
PY - 2012/9/1
Y1 - 2012/9/1
N2 - The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ongoing use of an evaluation tool on hospitals' emergency preparedness for mass casualty events (MCEs). Two cycles of evaluation of emergency preparedness were conducted based on measurable parameters. A significant increase was found in mean total scores between the 2 cycles (from 77.1 to 88.5). An increase was found in scores for standard operating procedures, training, and equipment, but the change was significant only in the training category. Relative increase was highest for hospitals that did not experience real MCEs. This study offers a structured and practical approach for ongoing improvement of emergency preparedness, based on validated, measurable benchmarks. Ongoing assessment of emergency preparedness motivates hospitals to improve capabilities and results in a more effective emergency response mechanism. Use of predetermined and measurable benchmarks allows the institutions being assessed to improve their level of performance in the areas evaluated.
AB - The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ongoing use of an evaluation tool on hospitals' emergency preparedness for mass casualty events (MCEs). Two cycles of evaluation of emergency preparedness were conducted based on measurable parameters. A significant increase was found in mean total scores between the 2 cycles (from 77.1 to 88.5). An increase was found in scores for standard operating procedures, training, and equipment, but the change was significant only in the training category. Relative increase was highest for hospitals that did not experience real MCEs. This study offers a structured and practical approach for ongoing improvement of emergency preparedness, based on validated, measurable benchmarks. Ongoing assessment of emergency preparedness motivates hospitals to improve capabilities and results in a more effective emergency response mechanism. Use of predetermined and measurable benchmarks allows the institutions being assessed to improve their level of performance in the areas evaluated.
KW - benchmarks
KW - emergency preparedness
KW - evaluation
KW - multicasualty event
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866296664&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1062860611432303
DO - 10.1177/1062860611432303
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84866296664
SN - 1062-8606
VL - 27
SP - 426
EP - 433
JO - American Journal of Medical Quality
JF - American Journal of Medical Quality
IS - 5
ER -