Assessing healthcare capacity crisis preparedness: development of an evaluation tool by a Canadian health authority

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Brigitte Sonier-Ferguson¹  Erika N. Dugas¹  Breitner Gomes Chaves¹  Hassane Alami² 

[1] Vitalité Health Network, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Moncton, NB, Canada;École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada;

关键词: health evaluation;    crise management;    COVID-19 pandemic;    pandemic management;    tool development;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1231738

 received in 2023-05-30, accepted in 2023-09-21,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic presented health systems across the globe with unparalleled socio-political, ethical, scientific, and economic challenges. Despite the necessity for a unified, innovative, and effective response, many jurisdictions were unprepared to such a profound health crisis. This study aims to outline the creation of an evaluative tool designed to measure and evaluate the Vitalité Health Network’s (New Brunswick, Canada) ability to manage health crises.MethodsThe methodology of this work was carried out in four stages: (1) construction of an evaluative framework; (2) validation of the framework; (3) construction of the evaluative tool for the Health Authority; and (4) evaluation of the capacity to manage a health crisis.ResultsThe resulting evaluative tool incorporated 8 dimensions, 74 strategies, and 109 observable elements. The dimensions included: (1) clinical care management; (2) infection prevention and control; (3) governance and leadership; (4) human and logistic resources; (5) communication and technologies; (6) health research; (7) ethics and values; and (8) training. A Canadian Health Authority implemented the tool to support its future preparedness.ConclusionThis study introduces a methodological strategy adopted by a Canadian health authority to evaluate its capacity in managing health crises. Notably, this study marks the first instance where a Canadian health authority has created a tool for emergency healthcare management, informed by literature in the field and their direct experience from handling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Gomes Chaves, Alami, Sonier-Ferguson and Dugas.