Hospital Disaster Preparedness and Response

Abstract

Hospital disaster preparedness and response is a comprehensive, all-hazards approach that enables hospitals to remain safe and functional across the phases of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. It integrates structured planning Hospital Disaster Management Plan (HDMP) and Hospital Incident Command System (HICS), capacity building and coordinated action to protect patients, staff, infrastructure and essential services during emergencies. Hospital disaster management is a system of policies, plans, structures and procedures that guides health facilities through major internal and external events, such as mass casualties, epidemics, fires, technological failures and natural disasters. Core components include HVA to priorities risks, a HICS for clear command and control and detailed sub-plans for communication, triage, surge capacity, logistics, safety and security, infection prevention and control, evacuation, documentation and legal processes. The disaster phases are outlined with specific hospital roles across prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Hospitals prevent and mitigate risk through structural and non-structural safety measures, strengthen preparedness with written HDMPs, multidisciplinary committees, staff training and mock drills and organise coordinated response using triage, surge strategies and inter-agency collaboration. In the recovery and rehabilitation phase, hospitals focus on restoring services, providing psychosocial support and revising plans based on lessons learned. Ongoing training, mock drills and systematic documentation are highlighted as vital to test plans, identify gaps and ensure accountability, while robust IPC and safety measures safeguard staff and patients, particularly during outbreaks and high crowding situations. Overall, the resilient hospital disaster management depends on proactive risk assessment, a functional command system, ethical triage and resource allocation and continuous learning from incidents to enhance future readiness and community trust in hospital services during disasters.