Disaster preparedness in critical healthcare organisations

Abstract

A subset of healthcare institutions falls within the category of critical entities, as any disruption to their operation poses direct risks to society and public health. National and European Union regulations on the resilience of critical entities reinforce the expectation that actors in the healthcare sector must be able to prevent and manage extraordinary events, as well as maintain organisational resilience. The aim of this study is to present the types of extraordinary events that threaten the operations of critical healthcare entities and to examine the organisational and operational factors that influence resilience. This requires professional interpretation of the relevant new legal norms and consideration of the mandatory rules prescribed by the authority. The analysis adopts a comprehensive approach to hospital safety systems and evaluates the impacts of internally and externally generated extraordinary events on the continuity of patient care. The cases presented demonstrate that incidents involving the handling of dangerous substances, fires, gas cylinder events, and extreme weather pose significant risks, particularly when preventive and preparedness measures are insufficient. The study concludes that enhancing the resilience of critical healthcare entities is not solely a technical challenge but also a matter of organisational design, human resource management, and planning. Education and training, risk-based planning, and the regular conduct of exercises jointly contribute to ensuring that healthcare institutions can maintain essential services even under extraordinary circumstances.