Crisis preparedness of the health care organizations

Abstract

The management of medical facilities' primary task is undoubtedly the quality of treatment and ensuring patient safety. With increasing knowledge, new technologies, and the growing complexity of treatment procedures and methods, the probability of the occurrence of risks and, in some cases, the emergence of new risks are increasing. An adequately set up a risk management system in healthcare facilities has a fundamental impact on the crisis preparedness of these facilities and the effectiveness of the entire management system. Hospital management is currently being evaluated in terms of risk management and crisis preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article deals with risk management in health care facilities during the pandemic. COVID-19 evaluates the status and extent of risk management tools used and overall crisis preparedness. In healthcare facilities, as in other organizations, risk management is an integral part of management processes. It is gaining in importance, especially in connection with ensuring the safety of patients, which, together with the quality of treatment, is becoming the primary task of the management of individual medical facilities. Until now, the prevailing opinion was that the functioning of emergency medical services sufficiently ensures healthcare preparedness for crises and emergencies. Shooter attacks, cyber-attacks, prolonged blackouts, evacuation, or situations connected with the COVID-19 pandemic are situations for which many Czech hospitals (not to mention polyclinics) are almost not ready at all. The aim of the paper will be based on a questionnaire survey and interviews to analyze and identify the state of crisis preparedness for emergencies of medical facilities in the Czech Republic and to propose measures to optimize the current situation. © 2020 International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference. All rights reserved.