Timely Patient Data-driven Resource Planning to Optimize In-hospital Emergent Evacuation - Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) Study

Q: What problem does the study address regarding hospital evacuations?

Hospital Incident Command Centers often lack standardized methods to assess evacuation devices and staffing needed for patients with varying illness severity, leading to delays and resource mismatches.

Q: How does the Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) work?

EEIS connects hospital information systems with real-time patient data to automatically suggest suitable evacuation equipment and workforce, based on an integrated evacuation framework.

Q: What did the study find after implementing EEIS across the hospital?

EEIS-managed units showed excellent agreement with nurse assessments, and nurse feedback highlighted the need for accessible power outlets and wireless network connectivity outside the building.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Hospital fires endanger patients and disrupt medical resources, while Hospital Incident Command Centers (HICS) often lack standardized approaches to determine evacuation devices and appropriate workforce for patients with different illness severity. Nurses commonly depend on personal experience and paper-based assessments, causing communication gaps and staffing shortages, especially during night shifts. The Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) was developed to link hospital information systems with patient data, improving evacuation efficiency through integrated assessment and resource allocation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

1. Introduction

J Chin MedAssoc Original article Timely patient data-driven resource planning to optimize in-hospital emergent evacuation Shu-Chen Kuoa,b, Shih-Hsin Hunga,b,c, Kuan-Jui Tsenga, An-Yeh Lind, Shin-Shang Choua,b,e,* aDepartment of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; bDepartment of Nursing, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; cDepartment of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC; dInformation Management Office, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; eTaipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Taipei, Taiwan, ROC Abstract Background: Hospital fires pose significant threats, yet Hospital Incident Command Centers (HICS) often lack standardized methods for assessing the evacuation devices and workforce needed for patients of varying illness severity. Frontline nurses typically rely on personal experience and paper-based assessments, leading to communication challenges and workforce shortages, particularly during night shifts. The Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) was developed to connect hospital information systems and patient data, optimizing evacuation efficiency. Methods: This mixed-methods study consisted of four phases: (1) Twenty-nine senior nurses participated in three expert group discussions, and the meeting minutes were thematically analyzed to develop a draft EEIS evacuation framework; (2) the accuracy of the EEIS draft algorithms was tested by retrieving evacuation data and validated through accuracy assessment methods; (3) the EEIS was implemented hospital-wide, with consistency between EEIS and nurse assessment data validated using kappa agreement; (4) think-aloud methods with four preset questions collected in-charge nurses’ feedback during fire drills. Results: In phase 1, an evacuation framework was established covering ward resources, patient evacuation devices, and hospital support resources. Phase 2 involved building the EEIS by integrating patient data from multiple systems, achieving 100% accuracy. In phase 3, EEIS-managed units in general wards and intensive care units showed excellent agreement with nurse assessments (κ = 0.974, p < 0.000; 0.86, p < 0.000) . In phase 4, feedback from 21 in-charge nurses after fire drills emphasized the need for accessible power outlets and wireless network connectivity outside the building to optimize response procedures. Conclusion: The EEIS rapidly provides adequate resources to nurses and facilitates communication with the HICS, ensuring the efficient and safe evacuation of patients. This system can be implemented in other digitized hospitals, with future developments potentially integrating the EEIS with local fire departments to enhance rescue operations. Keywords: Emergencies; Hospitals; Nursing; Safety [www.ejcma.org](www.ejcma.org) 609 Kuo et al. J Chin MedAssoc Lay Summary: Hospital fires pose serious risks, especially when evacuating patients with different health needs. Nurses often rely on their own judgment and paper-based tools, which can slow response times—particularly at night when staff is limited. To improve this, the Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) was created. It connects hospital systems with patient data to automatically suggest the best equipment and staff for each situation. This study tested EEIS in four steps: codesigning with expert nurses, validating its accuracy, implementing it hospital-wide, and using fire drills for feedback.The system’s decisions aligned well with nurses’ assessments. Nurses also suggested adding backup power and internet for outdoor use during emergencies. EEIS helps hospitals act faster and more safely during evacuations. It shows promise for use in other digital hospitals and could even be connected to local fire services. 1. INTRODUCTION Fire incidents in healthcare facilities are u

FAQs

What problem does the study address regarding hospital evacuations?

Hospital Incident Command Centers often lack standardized methods to assess evacuation devices and staffing needed for patients with varying illness severity, leading to delays and resource mismatches.

How does the Emergency Evacuation Information System (EEIS) work?

EEIS connects hospital information systems with real-time patient data to automatically suggest suitable evacuation equipment and workforce, based on an integrated evacuation framework.

What did the study find after implementing EEIS across the hospital?

EEIS-managed units showed excellent agreement with nurse assessments, and nurse feedback highlighted the need for accessible power outlets and wireless network connectivity outside the building.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick