Functional Safety: Organizational Factors That Influence Hospital Response to Disasters

Abstract

Health facilities must ensure operational continuity in the face of adverse events to safeguard the lives of their occupants. Functional safety, defined by organizational and administrative factors, is crucial for institutional resilience. Objective: To analyze the organizational factors that influence hospital response to disasters in a medium-complexity hospital. Methodology: Quantitative, observational, field study. The WHO/PAHO Hospital Safety Index (HSI) was applied, assessing 61 organizational safety items using an ordinal scale (low, medium, high). Results: A critical vulnerability was identified; 40% of functional parameters are at a low level, 30% at a medium level, and only 30% at a high level. The main deficiencies lie in the absence of drills, the lack of action cards, and the limited capacity to expand critical services. Conclusions: The institution shows a high likelihood of operational collapse in the event of disasters due to the disconnect between the formal administrative structure and actual technical preparedness. It is imperative to institutionalize preventive maintenance plans and simulation exercises that strengthen logistical autonomy and immediate response capacity.