How can we evaluate a hospital business interruption from earthquake? Case of the 2018 North Osaka Earthquake

Abstract

【Purpose】Medical service continuity is essential for health emergency and disaster risk management. In Japan, the national government requires core disaster response medical hospitals to have business continuity plans (BCP). This paper describes the development of a business impact analysis method for medical facilities based on damage simulations of subsystems such as building structure, pipelines, medical equipment, and elevators. 【Method】Responses to a questionnaire about the business impacts of the 2018 North Osaka Earthquake at hospitals was used for analysis. 51 hospitals out of 217 hospitals responded to the questionnaire. The questions relate to physical damage, functional impact, and preparedness at each hospital. 【Results】The relationship between shaking, building seismic performance, and damage to physical components were analyzed. A prototype of a medical facility damage simulation system was developed and applied to the hospitals in Kyoto city. The possible damage to hospitals in Kyoto by a Nankai Trough Earthquake was simulated. 【Conclusion】Simulation results imply that damage to hospital facilities would be more severe than that caused by the 2018 North Osaka Earthquake. Such an event could have a serious impact on medical service continuity in Kyoto.