Type of disaster is your local hospital

Sample Solution

    The type of disaster that a local hospital is likely to face depends on the region and the area’s natural environment. For example, if a hospital is located in an area prone to tornadoes or hurricanes, then those disasters are more likely than earthquakes or floods. Hospitals will also need to plan for technological failures, power outages, and other man-made hazards.

Depending on the location and its history of natural disasters, it is possible that the local hospital has faced one such event in the past. If so, it is important to review how well prepared they were for response and recovery. How was communication managed? Was there a coordinated effort between staff at all levels? Were resources available when needed? How was damage assessed and addressed? As a risk manager for the hospital, some questions I might ask about their response plan include: -What steps does the hospital take to mitigate potential damage from disasters (such as structural upgrades or emergency supplies)? -How often are plans reviewed and tested? -What kind of training do staff receive related to disaster planning? -Does the facility have access to outside agencies such as FEMA or state Emergency Management teams if additional assistance is needed during an emergency situation? -How are vulnerable populations identified ahead of time so they can be prioritized in any response measures taken by the organization? -Do community stakeholders have input into these plans and can they provide feedback during drills or real events if necessary? Ultimately, it is important for hospitals to have comprehensive plans in place that address both short term emergencies as well as long term recovery efforts afterward. With detailed knowledge of what could happen within their communities and adequate practice responding accordingly, hospitals can create safe environments not only for patients but employees too before even more serious damages occur due to lack of preparedness.