Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive assessment of Swiss hospital disaster preparedness in 2016 compared to the 2006 data.
METHODS: A questionnaire regarding hospital preparedness in 2016 was addressed to all heads responsible for Swiss emergency departments (EDs). The survey was initiated in May 2016 and finalised in December 2016.
RESULTS: Of the 107 ED included, 83 (78%) returned the survey. Overall, 76 (92%) hospitals had a plan in case of a massive influx of patients, and 76 (93%) in case of an accident within the hospital itself. There was a lack in preparedness for specific situations: less than a third of hospitals had a specific plan for NRBC+B patients: Nuclear/Radiological (14; 18%), Biological (25; 31%), Chemical (27; 34%), and Burns (15; 49%), and 48 (61%) of EDs had a decontamination area. Furthermore, less than a quarter of hospitals had specific plans for the most vulnerable populations during disasters such as seniors (12; 15%) and children (19; 24%).
CONCLUSIONS: The rate of hospitals with a disaster plan has increased since 2006, reached a level of 92%, but the Swiss health care system remains vulnerable to specific threats like NRBC. The lack of national legislation and Federal funds aimed at fostering hospitals’ preparedness to disasters may be the root cause to explain the vulnerability of Swiss hospitals regarding disaster medicine.