Hospital Emergency and Disaster Plans (Krankenhausalarm- und Einsatzplan-KAEP) are a central component of hospital preparedness in Germany. Despite national and international recommendations, considerable variability exists in structure, responsibilities, communication pathways, and training concepts across hospitals. This study aims to systematically analyze and compare KAEP documents from German hospitals using a structured qualitative and quantitative document analysis. The goal is to identify strengths, deficits, institutional influencing factors, and best-practice elements to support evidence-based improvements and harmonization of hospital emergency planning.
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Hospitals in Germany with an existing documented Hospital Emergency and Disaster Plan (KAEP).
Other
Retrospective
Not listed
Maturity of Hospital Emergency Plans
Overall maturity of hospital emergency and disaster plans assessed using a predefined composite score. The score is calculated by aggregating four predefined domains (structure, operational processes, communication, training/exercises) each rated on a standardized 0-5 ordinal scale. Domain scores are summed to generate a single overall maturity score per hospital.
Derivation of Practice-Oriented Recommendations
Identification of strengths, weaknesses, and improvement potential across hospitals.
Institutional Influencing Factors
Association between KAEP quality and hospital characteristics (care level, size, ownership, region).
Training and Exercise Practices
Frequency, documentation, and evaluation mechanisms related to KAEP exercises.
Best-Practice Elements
Identification of recurring high-quality structural or procedural elements.
Use of Digital or AI-Supported Components
Exploratory assessment of digital tools referenced in KAEP documents.
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Lea Kölsch
Lead sponsor
Heidelberg University
Sponsor institution
University Hospital Heidelberg
Collaborator
Prof. Erik Popp - Head, Department of Crisis and Disaster Management
Collaborator
Prof. Markus Ries - Head of Research, Department of Crisis and Disaster Management
Collaborator
Hanne Schäfer - Head of Operational KAEP, Department of Crisis and Disaster Management
Collaborator
PD Dr. med. Fabian Weykamp - Senior Physician, Department of Radiotherapy
Collaborator
Dr. med. Maik von der Forst - Deputy Head, Department of Crisis and Disaster Management
Collaborator
