Background: Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a valuable risk analysis tool aimed at predicting the potential failures of a system and preventing them from occurring. Since its initial use, it has also recently been applied to the healthcare setting, which has been made progressively more complex by technological developments and new challenges. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is an area that requires effective strategies. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the employment of FMEA in the healthcare environment, with special consideration for its application in the infectious disease setting. Methods: An extensive search was carried out in two international and public databases, PUBMED and EMBASE; we included all studies regarding the use of FMEA in hospital settings and human patient care processes. Results: A total of 163 studies published over the period from 2003 to 2023 were included for data extraction. These studies were analyzed regarding bibliometric data (publication year and country of origin), the healthcare issues to be addressed, the application fields, and the utilized FMEA methods. Among these, 13 studies were found that took an interest in infectious diseases. Conclusions: FMEA can be effectively used for healthcare risk assessment. Its implementation as a standard tool in healthcare settings, though demanding, may serve as an important tool for preventing the risk of biohazard incidents, epidemics, and environmental contamination, thereby improving safety for both patients and healthcare workers.

Background: On 16 January 2021 (EB148/18 Session), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Member States emphasized the importance of expanding the WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Initiative, investing in a global health workforce and multidisciplinary teams capable of being rapidly deployed, equipped, and fully trained to respond to all-hazard emergencies effectively. This resulted in the need to define a comprehensive framework. To achieve this, the EMT Initiative proposes the application of the four components of Surge Capacity, known as the 4“S” (Staff, Systems, Supplies, and Structure/Space), to build global capacities and capabilities, ensuring rapid mobilization and efficient coordination of national and international medical teams for readiness and response, complying with crisis standards of care defined in an ethical and evidence-based manner. Methods: A mixed-qualitative research approach was used, incorporating expert consensus through focus group discussions (FGDs), between 2021 and July 2022. This facilitated a detailed process analysis for the application of the surge capacity components to build global capacities and capabilities. This research highlighted the similarities between surge capacity and capacity building from an initial desk review and unified these concepts within the EMT Initiative. A standardized formal pathway was developed to enhance local, regional, and global capacities for emergency readiness and response. Results: The results showed that the framework successfully integrated the essential components of surge capacity and capacity building, making it adaptable to various settings. Conclusions: This framework provides a unified and replicable approach for readiness and response for all-hazards emergencies.

An explosion at a fuel depot in the region of Berkadzor, around 6 km near Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh, happened on September 25, 2023 resulting in more than 220 lost lives and around 300 injuries. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia (MoH), collaborating with the WHO, requested assistance for burn specialised care teams and medical evacuation. To describe the emergency response learnings by reflecting on Armenia’s experience managing the incident and the international EMTs’ role in responding to it. This was an observational study whose data was compiled through a triangulation of data obtained from the EMT teams using information management tools, including an EMT Minimum Data Set (MDS) specifically designed for coordinating burns responses in a daily reporting format and others from the MoH and medical evacuation (Medevac) teams, together with the information and analysis from field coordination meetings and deliberation with MoH. Four international EMTs (I-EMTs) were deployed to Armenia in coordination with the MoH and WHO. They were well-prepared and self-sufficient, but the response highlighted the need for standardized protocols for Medevac and burns care. Nearly half of the patients were critical on the first day, with 58% in non-ICU centers and 42% in ICU, with 20 patients medically evacuated using draft Medevac guidelines. Severely burned patients in non-ICU units received 24-hour care from intensive care specialists. However, the shortage of ICU and specialized burns beds in Armenian hospitals was evident. The Emergency Medical Teams Coordination Cell (EMTCC) team effectively used information management tools to collect, process, analyze, and disseminate data to the MoH and response teams, facilitating rapid deployment and decision-making. The EMTs collaborated with local hospital staff, ensuring coordination with MoH and hospital management for follow-up and supply delivery. This integrated approach built local capacity, developed essential rehabilitation modules for burned patients, and delivered burn kits and surgical equipment. Early international assistance, coordinated by WHO and MoH, facilitated a rapid response, early EMT CC installation, and improved communication, ensuring the delivery of essential burn kits. There is a need to set standards for elements such as Medevac and burns care through the WHO EMT Standards and recommendations. In addition, these settings should be integrated into the information management tools under development. The findings and lessons learnt on the specialised care teams have been essential and aligned with the 2030 EMT strategy. Major investments are needed to ensure that more specialised care teams are efficient and effective even in future responses, especially for healthcare facilities that are inadequately capacitated, which would eventually allow local workforce growth and strengthen technical skills through their collaborations in training and collaborative responses. Further, they would guide future fast delivery of surgical equipment and burns treatment kits.

The purpose of World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) is to provide timely, high-quality health services in the immediate aftermath of disasters and during disease outbreaks and other emergencies, including conflict and insecurity. The war in Ukraine has presented all health-care providers with many unique challenges. This assessment addresses the importance and the complexities of the global spread of the Emergency Medical Team system challenges to meet a wide variety of crises including war, those that are unique to this very complex crisis in Ukraine, and the essential role of educational initiatives, not only in professional development but also in teamwork and cultural integration.

Background/Objectives: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) place an excessive strain on health systems in disaster-affected settings and may lead to a parallel public health emergency lasting months or years after a disaster. Although NCDs are increasingly recognized as a major challenge in disasters and humanitarian emergencies, a dedicated and standardized response plan is missing, as well as a shortage of evidence-based guidelines for NCD management in theses contexts. Over the years, Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) have traditionally been deployed to manage acute conditions such as trauma and infectious diseases that quickly impact health systems. However, greater attention is needed to address acute exacerbation of NCDs and to ensure continuity of care for people with chronic health needs in disasters and emergencies. Methods: We conducted a scoping review exploring the EMTs’ management of chronic NCDs during disasters and humanitarian emergencies, in order to identify the strategies adopted, the challenges faced, and the recommendations provided to address this health problem. The online databases PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO were searched to identify relevant papers. Results: After screening the papers against the eligibility criteria, 17 publications were retrieved. Five different areas of intervention concerning EMTs and NCDs management were identified: (i) EMTs pre-departure preparation, operational time, and length of stay; (ii) EMTs staff composition and training; (iii) EMTs logistics; (iv) EMTs integration with local health services; (v) EMTs clinical data record. Conclusions: The findings emerging from this study showed that NCDs significantly impact disaster response in different settings, underlining the need to implement a range of EMTs activities to guarantee assistance for chronic health needs. In view of strengthening the ability of health systems to cope with the NCDs’ burden, the EMTs’ initiatives should be considered as a bridge between the support provided during the acute phase of an emergency and the continuation of care ensured by the system in its early recovery phase.