Developing a framework for fire safety management plan: the case of Malaysia's public hospital buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim ◽  
Naziah Muhamad Salleh ◽  
Mohd Zailan Sulieman ◽  
Norhidayah Md Ulang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Facilities

PurposeGlobally, several studies have shown that hospital building is charged with multiple inherent risks because a large number of users are vulnerable in tragic events. Thus, the need for the fire safety management plan (FSMP) has been proved as an instrument to mitigate fire and related risks in healthcare facilities. In Malaysia, FSMP regarding public healthcare building is yet to be explored in-depth. Therefore, this paper explores the information necessary to develop the FSMP framework for public hospital buildings.Design/methodology/approachThe paper’s objectives were accomplished via a combination of five face-to-face interviews and observations of five selected public hospitals in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. The five key participants were across the five public hospitals and collated data analysed through thematic analysis with the assistance of MAXQDA 2018.FindingsFindings show that fire safety stakeholders practice system, fire safety action plan and fire risk management were the three main variables that promote fire safety programme and will improve FSMP for Malaysia’s public hospital buildings.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper’s data collection is limited to Penang, Malaysia, and a qualitative research approach was used, but this does not deteriorate the strength of the findings. Future studies are needed to consider validating findings from this paper via a quantitative approach.Practical implicationsThe suggested framework can be employed by Malaysia’s public hospital authorities as a guideline to mitigate fire hazards in the country’s healthcare facilities.Originality/valueThis paper is encouraging hospital operators and other key stakeholders to improve on their FSMP for healthcare buildings across Malaysia as part of the study implications.

An assessment of fire safety measures in healthcare facilities in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Ebekozien ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Solomon Oisasoje Ayo-Odifiri ◽  
Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Electrical Faults ◽  
Fire Accidents ◽  
Safety Rules

PurposeThe occurrence of fire accidents in hospital buildings has become a serious challenge and more serious in developing nations. The purpose of this paper intends to assess fire safety measures in Nigerian hospital facilities. The significance of this study is to ensure that the design and construction of hospital facilities enhance the safety of users and properties.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected via a case study and questionnaire survey and administered to the facility users. The study survey is to assess the respondents' perception of fire safety measures in hospital facilities and suggest possible policy measures that will be employed to enhance safety.FindingsThis paper found that 91% of the respondents have awareness of fire safety measures in hospital facilities. Electrical faults and combustible materials were identified as the frequent causes of fire occurrences in hospital facilities. This can be averted where flammable materials and electrical appliances are correctly installed, and safety rules enforced. Findings show that safety rules are lax in public than standard private hospitals.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited to fire safety measures in Nigerian healthcare facilities. Future research is needed to evaluate the level of compliance from design, construction and post-construction of precautionary fire safety measures in hospital facilities in Nigeria.Practical implicationsThis paper recommended that designers and hospital administrators should improve on fire safety measures via the development of fire safety management plan and education. Thus, enforcement of fire safety measures in hospital facilities as specified in building codes should be implemented and monitored during and after the design of the hospital buildings. Findings provide valuable lessons on how to improve the fire safety measures in healthcare facilities across the states and other developing countries with similar healthcare situations.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates that the stakeholders, especially government agencies concern with approval and enforcement of fire safety measures in healthcare facilities need to reawaken to her responsibility because of the lax implementation across the states.

Assessment of Healthcare Service Quality

2020 ◽  
pp. 271-291
Author(s):  
Segufta Dilshad ◽  
Afsana Akhtar ◽  
S. S. M. Sadrul Huda ◽  
Nandeeta Samad
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Private And Public

The service quality measurement of healthcare services is always a big concern for the hospitals, patient rights activists, regulators, and general patients. This study deals with quality assessment of healthcare facilities concerning the private and public health facilities of Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study follows the survey research approach. Using the purposive sampling method, the individuals have been selected from households who have received healthcare services from public or private hospitals of Dhaka city in last year. The study collected data among 410 respondents. Standard statistical software (i.e., SPSS and STATA) have been used to analyze the data. This study confirms existing evidence that Bangladeshi patients have a growing concern with lower level of satisfaction in public healthcare services. The respondents faced multi-dimensional problems, characterized by a low level of overall service quality, interpersonal service quality, and technical or treatment-related quality at public hospitals. Further research is recommended to analyze the issues further.

Fire safety management of public buildings: a systematic review of hospital buildings in Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naziah Muhamad Salleh ◽  
Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim ◽  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
Mohd Zailan Sulieman ◽  
Andrew Ebekozien
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Fire Safety ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Technical Management ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThere is increasing recognition amongst healthcare providers on the necessity to improve fire safety management in healthcare facilities. This is possibly not yet satisfactory because of recent fire incidents in Asia. This paper set out to analyse the literature because of the paucity of systematic reviews on fire safety management of public healthcare facilities and proffer preventive measures.Design/methodology/approachThirty related studies were identified with the support of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses via Scopus and Web of Science databases.FindingsInfluencing factors, hindrances to fire safety management and preventive measures for fire-related occurrence in Asian hospital buildings were the three themes that emerged from the reviewed. The factors that influence fire in Asian hospital buildings were categorised into technical, management and legislation factors.Research limitations/implicationsThe recommendations of this paper were based on literature that was systematically reviewed but does not compromise the robustness concerning fire safety management in hospital buildings across Asian countries. Much is needed to be known regarding fire safety in healthcare buildings across Asian countries. This paper recommended exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach as part of the implications for further studies. This will allow in-depth face-to-face interviews and increase the generalisability of future findings concerning fire safety management in hospital buildings across Asian countries to a larger population.Practical implicationsAs part of the practical implications, this paper recommends fire safety management plan as one of the practical possible measures for addressing technical, management and legislation factors. Also recommended is training and fire safety education of healthcare staff in collaboration with safety firefighters to address major issues that may arise from management factors. The government should upgrade the safety technology equipment in healthcare facilities as part of measures to mitigate issues concerning technical and legislation factors. Also, the identified factors are part of the theoretical contributions to the advancement of knowledge and this brings to the front burners new opening.Originality/valueThis is probably the first systematic review paper on fire safety hospital buildings in Asia.

Rise in Polish health spending could be more ambitious

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospital ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Healthcare Spending ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Structural Problems

Significance This has resulted in the limited availability of a range of health services and in structural problems, including insufficient human resources and public hospital debts. However, with the relatively recent introduction of binding funding targets, the public health system is on a path to structural reforms. Impacts Redistributing financial resources in the existing framework may benefit specialised public hospitals and pharma multinationals. United Right is likely to benefit politically from post-COVID health reforms. Pressure to increase public healthcare spending further will be a focal point in the future political debate.

Fire safety management in public health-care buildings: issues and possible solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim ◽  
Naziah Muhamad Salleh ◽  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
Mohd Zailan Sulieman ◽  
Norhidayah Md Ulang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Fire Safety ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Facilities

Purpose Frequent fire incidences in various hospitals across the globe with devastating effects on humans and other resources have multiplied. Stakeholders in the health-care sector are worried because of the yearly fire outbreak increase. However, fire safety management has been proved as a successful platform to mitigate fire in health-care facilities. How far regarding public health-care facilities is yet to receive in-depth studies in Malaysia. This paper aims to investigate the issues associated with fire safety management and proffers possible solutions to improve safety in public health-care facilities from the operators’ perception. Design/methodology/approach The objectives were achieved through a combination of case studies of five selected Malaysia’s public hospitals and a qualitative approach. Thematic analysis with the assistance of MAXQDA (software program designed for computer-assisted qualitative and mixed methods data) 2018, a type of qualitative data analysis software was used to analyse the collated data which emerged from the knowledgeable participants. Findings Lax implementation of safety policy, inadequate water pressure, poor maintenance, inadequate communication system, amongst others, emerged as the issues. Findings proffer five main measures to possibly improve fire safety management in public health-care buildings. This includes a feasible institutional framework, improve the emergency response team, improve the occupational health and safety system and others. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to exploring the issues associated with fire safety management and proffer possible solutions to improve safety in public health-care facilities from the operators’ perception. Future research is needed to engage useful information in advancing fire safety management in public hospital buildings and possibly developing a qualitative model using a generic fire response model. Also, to investigate the level of compliance with the requirements of a fire safety management plan and possibly develop a well-detailed fire safety plan in Malaysia’s public health-care buildings. Practical implications As part of the paper implications, the paper concludes that improved fire protection systems via modern technologies and training of key staff members in accident response and recovery during fire emergencies should be encouraged. This can be achieved through the enforcement and implementation of a fire safety management plan. Thus, this study is encouraging the implementation and sustainability of a fire safety management plan for health-care buildings across Malaysia. Originality/value To the best of this paper’s knowledge, this is possibly the first comprehensive paper on fire safety management in public health-care facilities that engaged operators in Malaysia. Moreover, this paper proffers feasible policy solutions to improve the fire safety management plan in public health-care buildings.

Patients’ assessment of medical services quality – a determinant of changes in medical entity management on the example of Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dorota Hampel
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Medical Effectiveness ◽  
Medical Entity ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
State Of Affairs

PurposeThe article’s primary goal is to identify areas requiring improvement in the activities of healthcare entities, suggest directions for future changes, and indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the clinic’s operation based on patients’ opinions. Subjectively expressed opinions of patients are treated as acceptance of the current state of affairs or the need to introduce changes in a given area.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical research was based on information obtained from questionnaire surveys on patients’ opinions about services provided by medical entities. The hypothesis was verified by research conducted in 23 (out of 50 possible) the most dynamically developing non-public healthcare institutions in one of the regions of Poland. The conducted research was based on a proprietary survey using questions on qualitative and quantitative scales.FindingsThe results of empirical research allowed us to identify areas requiring improvement and to propose future directions of changes in the surveyed units. The suggested changes should significantly improve efficiency in the organisation and management of a health facility, focused on medical effectiveness and patients’ health effectiveness.Originality/valueFrom a broader perspective, research results may become a starting point for further considerations on changes in the organisation and management of healthcare facilities. Using the study’s conclusions in practice may positively affect the improvement of the functioning of healthcare facilities, their better reputation and contribute to increasing competitiveness in the medical services market.

scholarly journals Using Action Research and Action Learning (ARAL) to develop a response to the abuse of older people in a healthcare context

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona McAlinden
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy And Procedure

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe Monash Health’s development of a Policy and Procedure on the abuse of older people in metropolitan Australia. Monash Health is a public healthcare network that consists of six public hospitals and over 40 community health care sites throughout the South East of Melbourne. Design/methodology/approach An Action Research Action Learning approach was employed to develop a comprehensive set of policy and procedure documents to ensure that Monash Health became compliant with the State Government’s expectations around responding to the abuse of older people in a consistent manner. Findings Almost 90,000 Monash Health hospital admissions per year are older people aged over 65 years. Senior Monash Health management recognized that staff did not have adequate information, education and resources to consistently identify and respond to situations of elder abuse. What is more, the existing internal Monash Health document Supporting Older People at Risk did not meet obligations stated in the Victorian Government’s Elder Abuse Strategy (2009). Originality/value The project’s emphasis upon participatory action research, cooperative inquiry and action learning further resulted in the identification of an opportunity to develop a strategic response to violence and abuse for all patients of Monash Health, not just older people.

Significant risk factors associated with facilities management (FM) outsourcing

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dubem I. Ikediashi ◽  
Stephen O. Ogunlana
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
The Body ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Body Of Knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the body of knowledge on healthcare facilities management (FM) by investigating the risks associated with outsourcing of FM services in hospitals. Design/methodology/approach – The paper relied on two strands of methodology common with pragmatic research. Questionnaire survey (QS) used data from 208 respondents representing ten hospitals while three out of the ten hospitals involved in the QS were selected based on their willingness to enter the case study (CS) interview. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics for QS and using narrative techniques by discussing themes, sub-themes for the CS. Findings – Findings established 24 out of the 35 risk factors as critical, four factors as somehow critical, and five factors as not critical. Besides, nine risk factors were found to be significantly loaded on the five risk categories. The rank analysis also revealed that the top five critical risk factors are: inexperience and lack of requisite skills; possibility of fraud by vendor; financial failure of chosen vendor; vendor opportunism; and fall in morale of employees. Originality/value – The study provides an unambiguous contribution to exiting body of knowledge on outsourcing risks as it relates to healthcare FM. It reinforces the theory that risks exist in any form of relationship but developed a distinct body of factors associated with outsourcing of FM services particularly from the context of Nigeria’s public healthcare sector.

Fire risk of apparel manufacturing buildings in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M.D.I.M. Rathnayake ◽  
P. Sridarran ◽  
M.D.T.E. Abeynayake
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Fire Safety ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Apparel Manufacturing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Indirect Impacts

Purpose The total essence of apparel manufacturing buildings (AMBs) is highly influenced by fire incidents which are caused direct or indirect impacts to the present building structure or even in old age. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the fire risk of AMBs in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted to explore the local and international fire incidents in AMBs and identify 24 factors that contribute to fire risk of AMBs. A questionnaire survey with professionals who have the knowledge and experience related to past fire incidents and 18 interviews with professionals of fire safety management were carried out. Content analysis was involved to evaluate interviewees’ opinions and relative importance index was involved to rank identified factors that contribute to the fire risk of AMBs. Findings The results revealed that due to the business nature of AMBs hold a high risk for fire incidents. The study discovered 83.4% of high fire risk prevailing in AMBs in Sri Lanka. Faulty wiring, welding work with electrical sparks and accumulation of waste fabric, paper and other garbage recognized as the top three factors that contribute to the fire risk of AMBs in Sri Lanka. Finally, the strategies proposed to eliminate identified all 41 factors that contribute to the fire risk of AMBs in Sri Lanka. Originality/value The paper helps to guide facility owners regarding the fire safety of AMBs in Sri Lanka.

Management of public healthcare facilities in the Philippines: issues and concerns

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramiro Z Dela Cruz ◽  
Ruth A Ortega-Dela Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Insufficient Knowledge

Background/Aims Public hospitals are the primary means of healthcare delivery in developing countries. Given the pressing need for efficient health services, it is imperative to know the extent to which a country's public healthcare institutions meet an ever increasing public demand. This study aimed to assess the state of hospital facilities among public health care institutions in a developing country. Methods Descriptive research methods were used, including needs analysis along with management and client satisfaction surveys, in order to analyse information on issues that related to the management of hospital facilities in the Philippines. Various members of the hospital community were selected to assess different aspects of hospital management. Results The results of this study show that most concerns stemmed from the lack of financial resources, materials, equipment and technological innovations; insufficient knowledge, skills and human resources; and problems that related to processes and methodologies. Conclusions Public hospitals are in dire need of facility upkeep to maintain their operations. This has become a more pressing concern because of the very limited resources at the disposal of public hospitals. This study also highlighted the crucial role played by the national government in finding effective and efficient ways to address these issues and concerns to ensure successful delivery of healthcare services in the country.

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