Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Research and Innovations (new projects / technology / innovations / service models)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Kharaishvili N
Introduction :
o Health system strengthening (HSS) has been a priority for healthcare professionals for decades. After the coronavirus outbreak, HSS tenants – such as information management systems, data analysis, operational management, business continuity – now rank supreme. The pandemic response revealed widespread challenges that healthcare providers are facing in the areas of emergency response and management. The most notable impediments are related to the lack of cohesively integrated local, regional and national emergency response protocols; non-adaptive healthcare infrastructure; deficient emergency funding and medical supplies; and missing emergency coordination and communication mechanisms. But there is another external threat that is quickly gaining traction and warrants equal focus: climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Climate-induced extreme weather and environmental events have shifted the geographic range of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, disrupted food and water security, diminished air quality, weakened socioeconomic systems, and damaged health systems infrastructure and resources. According to the World Health Organization, “between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress” with a direct health cost estimated up to USD 2-4 billion per year by 2030. These multitude of issues that climate change exacerbates can quickly overwhelm health systems.
Objectives :
o This presentation will educate the audience on the impacts of climate change on human health, the importance of including climate change solutions in health system resilience, and how to incorporate climate change solutions into plans for resilient health systems that are capable of absorbing, adapting, anticipating and transforming when exposed to external threats. Hospitals play a critical role in countries’ health systems by providing essential medical care to the community, particularly in crises like pandemics or extreme weather events. Prolonged outbreaks lead to the uncontrolled spread of disease, with rapidly increasing medical service demands that can potentially overwhelm the capacities of hospitals and health system at large. To improve resilience of health care facilities in the face of adverse public health events, hospital management needs to prioritize emergency preparedness, be cognizant of response actions, and plan for a quick recovery.
Methodology :
o Based on guidance from the World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, and the Canadian Public Health Association, Jacobs has developed a Health System Resilience framework organized into eight solution-based core competencies: (1) policies, legislation and plans for emergency preparedness, response and recovery; (2) organizational/interagency coordination and communication mechanisms; (3) healthcare infrastructure services; (4) logistics and supply chain management; (5) operational management and business continuity; (6) information management systems and data analysis; (7) assessment of risks, vulnerabilities and technical capacities; and (8) training and exercises. This framework has been used to create a pandemic preparedness plan & all-hazard needs assessment for one of the top five large US health systems focusing on 40 acute care, managed, and specialty hospitals, 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 45,000 coworkers, and 2,400 physicians. This assessment was developed in response to COVID-19 pandemic. However, the plan outlined strategies and steps that can be adapted for other outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics. Indeed, this plan must be a living document, with regular updates as conditions, information, and needs change, with regard to COVID-19 or any other pandemic. Additionally, a hospital-specific plan must link to the overall national preparedness program.
Result & Outcome :
o The project, which included creating an emergency preparedness and response plan for pathogens with pandemic potential, aimed to enhance and transform the health system’s current emergency preparedness and response capabilities into a resource for other health systems around the country and around the globe. Solutions for these core competencies have actually been deployed for private, public, and government health entities in 40+ countries globally including United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia. Jacobs all-hazards approach, encompassing natural disasters, pandemics, malevolent acts, cyber, and manmade events, provides entities with an enterprise-level detailed assessment of risk and vulnerabilities, a recommendation of prioritized adaptation actions. Entities who implement these strategies following local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines experience improved service and health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization, the benefits of an effective, hospital-based emergency response include: (1) continuity of essential services; (2) well-coordinated implementation of priority action at every level; (3) clear and accurate internal and external communication; (4) swift adaptation to increased demands; (5) effective use of scarce resources; and (6) a safe environment for health workers
