Investigating the Readiness of Hospitals in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Crisis of COVID-19

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the world, hospitals have played a major role in managing the crisis; therefore, the hospitalchr('39')s readiness to continue medical care in the crisis of COVID-19 has particular importance to communities. The aim of the current study was to determine the readiness of hospitals in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran in the COVID-19 crisis.

This is a cross-sectional study and the research population includes all hospitals in Sistan and Baluchestan province, which includes 24 hospitals. The data collection tool was the Comprehensive Hospital Preparedness Checklist for COVID-19, which was translated and validated. Data were collected by sending an online questionnaire to the provincechr('39')s hospitals.

The average score obtained out of 100 in the hospital readiness checklist for COVID-19; in the general information part was 36, the structure for planning and decision making was 53.3, development of a written COVID-19 plan was 40.9, elements of a COVID-19 plan was 46.7, facility communications were 15, consumables and durable medical equipment and supplies were 37.9, identification and management of ill patients were 54.2, visitor access and movement within the facility was 33.3, occupational health was 30.7, education and training was 49 and healthcare services/surge capacity was 19.1. The average total hospital readiness score for COVID-19 was 40.12, which is classified as weak.

The hospitals of Sistan and Baluchestan province received the lowest level of readiness in facility communications among other items of hospital readiness. This indicates that these hospitals are not ready to cooperate and coordinate with each other, and this slows down the process of fighting with COVID-19 in the province. The low amount of healthcare services/surge capacity at the peak of COVID-19 is one of the reasons in which the provincechr('39')s hospitals have not been able to perform well, therefore, it is necessary for the authorities to pay attention to this issue and create serious and quick solutions to increase the readiness of the hospitals in this field in order to reduce casualties and further harm of the society.