Stakeholders’ experiences with US hospital emergency preparedness — Part 2

Abstract

This study examined, via qualitative phenomenology, important stakeholders’ experiences with US hospital emergency preparedness, finding that their experiences varied from positive and effective to frustrating, time-consuming and inefficient. The findings centred on four themes: the importance of funding; collaboration, communication and coordination; the role of government; and hospital leadership buy-in. Together, these findings suggest that issues such as a lack of performance metrics, insufficient funding, inadequate surge capacity, confusing federal guidelines and accreditation requirements and an overall lack of coordination in hospitals’ abilities to manage emergency incidents continue to plague the US healthcare system. Exploring, and now understanding, these experiences can support the field in maintaining elements that work and recognising and applying solutions to its shortcomings. This is the second of two papers on the subject, the first of which appeared in a previous issue of this journal, examining the study’s methodological approach, data analysis, main results and implications for practice.