Prioritizing Factors Related to Hospital Readiness against COVID-19

With the prevalence of COVID-19 in the world and the sharp increase in deaths due to it, hospitals are in dire need of changing their situation and raising their preparedness in the face of the crisis. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to prioritize the factors related to the readiness of hospitals against COVID-19.

In this descriptive-survey study, first, by reviewing the literature, factors related to hospital readiness were extracted. Then, in order to validate these factors and reach the consensus of the expert group (40 physicians and nurses involved in the front line of the corona), the Delphi method was used. Finally, the identified indicators were ranked and prioritized using the SWARA (Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) technique.

The literature review and Delphi method led to the identification of 18 indicators related to hospital readiness, the most important of which were the number of staff, medical equipment, education and work experience, emergency network and manpower readiness, respectively.

Considering the severe vulnerability of hospitals to possible corona peaks, based on the results of this study, the condition of hospitals can be evaluated from five perspectives: hospital building, medical equipment, communication equipment, transportation and personnel, and necessary measures should be taken to eliminate their shortcomings.