Disaster planning at hospitals: A study on Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University hospital

Disasters are devastating processes which humanity has encountered throughout the history and may encounter any minute in the future. Having a number of meanings in the literature, disasters are sudden and unexpected events that effect settlements negatively and cause inadequacy in local sources to fight with this event, and eventually lead to material and moral losses in the society. Experiencing disasters is inevitable. However, it is necessary to do studies and make plans in order to protect from and minimize the devastating effects of disasters, and execute these plans during the disaster. All these processes are evaluated within disaster management. The importance of health sector holds a prominent place within the disaster management process. Hospitals are the foremost institutions that deliver comprehensive health services. Apart from serving routine health services, hospitals have to meet the increasing demands that occur during disasters. This study examines disaster concept, disaster management system, health management during disasters and disaster management at hospitals, and also evaluates the Hospital Disaster and Emergency Plan at Tekirdag Namık Kemal University Hospital.