Jewel Fraser/IPS

Preparing Caribbean hospitals for natural disasters

The smart hospital initiative has become a global standard for assessing the likelihood a hospital can remain functional in disasters


When floods killed more than a dozen people and caused millions of dollars in infrastructural damage last December in Trinidad, the Georgetown Hospital in St. Vincent weathered the storm, according to an article on the IPS News website.

Some 350,000 dollars was allocated to retrofit Georgetown as a "smart hospital." Georgetown had structural and functional deficiencies including an unsafe roof, no backup power supply and no water storage system.

The work done on the hospital included the renovating of the roof, waterproofing of the windows, installation of photovoltaic solar panels to ensure an alternative power supply and the introduction of a rainwater harvesting system. During the flooding, the island’s water supply system was down but the hospital’s water supply remained functional.

The smart hospital initiative was launched in the Caribbean about a decade ago and has become a global standard for assessing the likelihood a hospital can remain functional in disaster situations.

According to a report by the UK’s Department for International Development, more than 67 percent of hospitals in the Caribbean and Latin America are located in areas of higher risk of disaster.

Read the article.

 

 

 



September 29, 2014


Topic Area: Renovations


Recent Posts

Texas Law Limits Backup Power Mandates for Senior Care Facilities

As Texas relaxes generator mandates, healthcare facility managers now face tough decisions about emergency power investments and resident safety.


Cyber Crossfire: Why Healthcare Is Becoming a Battleground in Global Conflicts

As geopolitical tensions escalate, hospitals and critical suppliers are increasingly targeted in cyberattacks.


UPMC Presbyterian Receives $65 Million Gift for New Bed Tower

The tower is projected to open for patient care in early 2027.


Premier Health Partners Falls Victim to Cyber Incident

The incident occurred in July 2023.


Backup Power's Expanding Role in Emergency Preparedness for Healthcare

Manufacturers discuss design strategies, code shifts and lessons learned from real-world disasters.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.