Assessment of Early Warning Systems for Emergencies and Disasters in Hospitals of Mazandaran, Iran, in 2024: A Cross-Sectional Study
TL;DR
While most hospitals exhibited adequate preparedness in key EWS components, such as warning dissemination and response readiness, notable weaknesses were identified in hazard identification, hazard monitoring, and documentation.
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the status of early warning systems (EWS) for disaster and emergency response in hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2024. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted from April to December 2024 across all affiliated hospitals with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using a validated 55-item EWS checklist evaluating preparedness in both pre-incident and during-incident phases. Overall hospital preparedness was categorized as good (≥75%), moderate (50–74%), or poor (<50%). Results: In the pre-incident phase, 28 out of 32 hospitals (87.5%) demonstrated good preparedness score (mean±SD: 74.8±12.1). During the incident phase, overall preparedness declined, with only 25 hospitals (78.1%) classified as good (mean±SD: 61.7±14.9). Based on total performance scores, Hospital No. 29 and 30 ranked the highest, while Hospital No. 4 demonstrated the weakest overall preparedness across both phases. Conclusion: While most hospitals exhibited adequate preparedness in key EWS components, such as warning dissemination and response readiness, notable weaknesses were identified in hazard identification, hazard monitoring, and documentation. Strengthening targeted training programs, establishing integrated monitoring systems, and conducting regular simulation exercises are essential for enhancing operational effectiveness.