Integrated Standards for Disaster Risk Management in Healthcare Facilities: An Updated Review

Abstract

Background: Disasters have consistently posed challenges globally, with significant social, economic, and health implications. Healthcare facilities play a pivotal role in disaster risk management (DRM), yet many hospitals, especially in developing countries like KSA, lack adequate preparation due to insufficient DRM standards.

Aim: This study reviews integrated DRM standards tailored to healthcare facilities, with an emphasis on aligning KSA hospitals with global benchmarks to improve disaster readiness.

Methods: The review analyzed international DRM frameworks and accreditation standards from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan. It outlined disaster management phases—prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—and evaluated KSA’s progression in implementing these standards since 2010. It also explored key components such as the Incident Command System (ICS), triage protocols, and transportation in disaster scenarios.

Results: Findings indicate that global DRM standards have significantly enhanced hospital readiness. Examples include Japan’s comprehensive response post the 1995 Hanshin/Awaji earthquake and updates to U.S., Canadian, and Australian hospital accreditation following major disasters. KSA has made strides in DRM by incorporating crisis committees, staff training, and annual drills but lags in adopting a holistic DRM approach and ICS integration. Advanced triage protocols like SALT and JumpSTART and dynamic transportation strategies were identified as critical for mass casualty scenarios.

Conclusion: Enhancing DRM standards is essential for healthcare facilities to ensure operational efficiency during disasters. Comprehensive frameworks, ICS, and advanced triage systems can significantly improve disaster preparedness. KSA’s hospitals require expanded accreditation standards to transition from traditional disaster management to integrated DRM practices.