Developing a hospital response plan for mass casualties in traumatic incidents: A study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) are events in which a significant number of individuals sustain injuries, overwhelming the capacity and capabilities of local medical facilities and healthcare centers. Preparedness, along with a well-defined operational and execution plan for managing mass casualties in hospitals, is critical during disasters and emergencies. The absence of such a plan leads to an ineffective response to the incident and a worsening of the conditions in the hospital. This research aims to develop a response plan for managing these incidents in the hospital. MCIs occur when large numbers of people are injured, overwhelming local medical facilities. Having a clear action plan, along with preparedness critical for hospitals to manage these situations during disasters. Without such a plan, responses become ineffective and hospital conditions deteriorate. This research aims to develop a response plan for hospitals to manage these incidents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study will aim to develop a hospital response plan for mass casualties in traumatic incidents in Iran. Initially, a scoping review will be conducted to identify the components and elements of the response plan for mass casualties. Following this, semi-structured interviews will be held to obtain insights from experienced individuals, hospital managers, and experts in the health sector. In the next phase, a focus group discussion will be organized to develop the initial response plan for mass casualties in hospitals in Iran. Finally, the plan will be validated through a simulation and exercise based on a full-scale drill in a hospital. This study involves four phases: a scoping review to identify components, semi-structured interviews with experts, focused group discussions to develop the initial model, and validation through scenario-based drills.

CONCLUSION: This study first defines the concept of mass casualties resulting from traumatic incidents and then, by identifying its various dimensions, proposes a hospital response plan for such incidents. This response plan helps hospitals effectively handle such incidents, ensuring optimal and efficient care for casualties.