This study measured the impact of virtual three-level collaboration (3LC) exercises on participants’ perceived levels of collaboration, learning, and utility (CLU) at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia....This study measured the impact of virtual three-level collaboration (3LC) exercises on participants’ perceived levels of collaboration, learning, and utility (CLU) at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Our 3LC exercise is a tabletop training tool used to facilitate disaster education and document CLU. This model enables the practitioner to acquire new knowledge and promotes active learning. An English version of the CLU scale, the validated Swedish survey tool, was applied to 100 healthcare managers or leaders in various positions at both the operational and tactical levels after conducting the 3LC exercises. The response rate was 100%, although not all questions were answered in some cases. The results show that most participants strongly agreed that the exercises focused on collaboration (r^(2) = 0.767) and that they had acquired new knowledge during the exercises. There was a statistically significant association between participation in the collaboration exercises and perceived learning (r^(2) = 0.793), as well as between perceived learning and utility (r^(2) = 0.811). The collaboration exercises enhance the perceived effects of CLU. They also improve the ability of participants to adapt situational strategies to achieve a safer society. Although exercises were conducted virtually, they were well received by the participants and achieved a value M = 4.4 CLU score, which opens up new dimensions in collaboration simulation exercises.展开更多
Most hospitals have a contingency plan,based on all-risks and all-hazards assessment principles.However,emerging threats and risks often necessitate a flexible approach to emergency management at several levels of a d...Most hospitals have a contingency plan,based on all-risks and all-hazards assessment principles.However,emerging threats and risks often necessitate a flexible approach to emergency management at several levels of a disaster response system,for example,in hospitals.Sweden,and possibly other countries,has limited possibilities of surge capacity in the management of large-scale disasters and emergencies,which necessitates a local/national partnership and a flexible local disaster and contingency plan.This study evaluates the opinions of a selected managerial group,both at operative and strategic levels,regarding possible changes in a major hospital's contingency plan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore the elements of surge capacity and an operational tool,consisting of command and control,safety,communication,assessment,triage,treatment,and transport.The results show a need to create feasible management methods that can be evaluated,establish clear leadership,put preparedness as a constant point on the highest managerial agenda,improve external monitoring,and create a regional coordinating center.Furthermore,the results emphasize the significant role played by the incident command system and qualified leadership to facilitate competent and crucial medical decision making,as well as to provide reliable communication,collaboration,and coordination in a multi-agency response system during dynamic and unexpected emergencies.These steps enable a constant connection between reactive contingency plans and the proactivity in continuous risk assessment and enhance the flexibility of the contingency plans.展开更多
According to the concept of“flexible surge capacity,”hospitals may need to be evacuated on two occasions:(1)when they are exposed to danger,such as in war;and(2)when they are contaminated,such as during the Covid-19...According to the concept of“flexible surge capacity,”hospitals may need to be evacuated on two occasions:(1)when they are exposed to danger,such as in war;and(2)when they are contaminated,such as during the Covid-19 pandemic.In the former,the entire hospital must be evacuated,while in the latter,the hospital becomes a pandemic center necessitating the transfer of its non-contaminated staff,patients,and routine activities to other facilities.Such occasions involve several degrees of evacuation—partial or total—yet all require deliberate surge planning and collaboration with diverse authorities.This study aimed to investigate the extent of hospital evacuation preparedness in Thailand,using the main elements of the flexible surge capacity concept.A mixed method cross-sectional study was conducted using a hospital evacuation questionnaire from a previously published multinational hospital evacuation study.The tool contained questions regarding evacuation preparedness encompassing surge capacity and collaborative elements and an open-ended inquiry to grasp potential perspectives.All 143 secondary care,tertiary care,and university hospitals received the questionnaire;43 hospitals provided responses.The findings indicate glitches in evacuation protocols,particularly triage systems,the inadequacies of surge planning and multiagency collaboration,and knowledge limitations in community capabilities.In conclusion,the applications of the essential components of flexible surge capacity allow the assessment of hospital preparedness and facilitate the evaluation of guidelines and instructions through scenario-based training exercises.展开更多
文摘This study measured the impact of virtual three-level collaboration (3LC) exercises on participants’ perceived levels of collaboration, learning, and utility (CLU) at hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Our 3LC exercise is a tabletop training tool used to facilitate disaster education and document CLU. This model enables the practitioner to acquire new knowledge and promotes active learning. An English version of the CLU scale, the validated Swedish survey tool, was applied to 100 healthcare managers or leaders in various positions at both the operational and tactical levels after conducting the 3LC exercises. The response rate was 100%, although not all questions were answered in some cases. The results show that most participants strongly agreed that the exercises focused on collaboration (r^(2) = 0.767) and that they had acquired new knowledge during the exercises. There was a statistically significant association between participation in the collaboration exercises and perceived learning (r^(2) = 0.793), as well as between perceived learning and utility (r^(2) = 0.811). The collaboration exercises enhance the perceived effects of CLU. They also improve the ability of participants to adapt situational strategies to achieve a safer society. Although exercises were conducted virtually, they were well received by the participants and achieved a value M = 4.4 CLU score, which opens up new dimensions in collaboration simulation exercises.
文摘Most hospitals have a contingency plan,based on all-risks and all-hazards assessment principles.However,emerging threats and risks often necessitate a flexible approach to emergency management at several levels of a disaster response system,for example,in hospitals.Sweden,and possibly other countries,has limited possibilities of surge capacity in the management of large-scale disasters and emergencies,which necessitates a local/national partnership and a flexible local disaster and contingency plan.This study evaluates the opinions of a selected managerial group,both at operative and strategic levels,regarding possible changes in a major hospital's contingency plan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore the elements of surge capacity and an operational tool,consisting of command and control,safety,communication,assessment,triage,treatment,and transport.The results show a need to create feasible management methods that can be evaluated,establish clear leadership,put preparedness as a constant point on the highest managerial agenda,improve external monitoring,and create a regional coordinating center.Furthermore,the results emphasize the significant role played by the incident command system and qualified leadership to facilitate competent and crucial medical decision making,as well as to provide reliable communication,collaboration,and coordination in a multi-agency response system during dynamic and unexpected emergencies.These steps enable a constant connection between reactive contingency plans and the proactivity in continuous risk assessment and enhance the flexibility of the contingency plans.
文摘According to the concept of“flexible surge capacity,”hospitals may need to be evacuated on two occasions:(1)when they are exposed to danger,such as in war;and(2)when they are contaminated,such as during the Covid-19 pandemic.In the former,the entire hospital must be evacuated,while in the latter,the hospital becomes a pandemic center necessitating the transfer of its non-contaminated staff,patients,and routine activities to other facilities.Such occasions involve several degrees of evacuation—partial or total—yet all require deliberate surge planning and collaboration with diverse authorities.This study aimed to investigate the extent of hospital evacuation preparedness in Thailand,using the main elements of the flexible surge capacity concept.A mixed method cross-sectional study was conducted using a hospital evacuation questionnaire from a previously published multinational hospital evacuation study.The tool contained questions regarding evacuation preparedness encompassing surge capacity and collaborative elements and an open-ended inquiry to grasp potential perspectives.All 143 secondary care,tertiary care,and university hospitals received the questionnaire;43 hospitals provided responses.The findings indicate glitches in evacuation protocols,particularly triage systems,the inadequacies of surge planning and multiagency collaboration,and knowledge limitations in community capabilities.In conclusion,the applications of the essential components of flexible surge capacity allow the assessment of hospital preparedness and facilitate the evaluation of guidelines and instructions through scenario-based training exercises.
