Background: During epidemics and pandemics, health systems, and especially hospitals, face many challenges in the management of patients and staff. Hospital preparedness measures are critical for hospitals to respond effectively to the admission and management of COVID-19 patients. Ministry of health policy for pandemics must cover the ability of hospitals to respond to COVID-19. Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a checklist for evaluating the preparedness of hospitals to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched for and reviewed available evidence, including the literature and guidelines presented by related organizations. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, face-to-face interview was not possible so we used telephone and video connections, mobile applications and email for unstructured interviews. Checklist development was carried out by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Results: After applying the opinions of the experts, the final checklist had 2 main domains: measures at national and measures at hospital level. Preparedness at national level was categorized into 3 aspects that are implemented by the health ministry. Preparedness at hospital level was categorized in 24 subgroups. Conclusion: Hospital preparedness for admission and management of COVID-19 patients is essential. A checklist for the assessment of hospital preparedness for COVID-19 patient management and hospital management was designed and developed. Our preparedness assessment checklist is an expanded tool that provides clear and practical guidance that can be adapted for any hospital admitting COVID-19 patients.

Background: Air pollution is one of the most important factors threatening the health of citizens. It increases the prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as emergency admissions to hospitals in the polluted metropolitan cities. The present study was conducted using Air Quality (AirQ) model and aimed to investigate the effects of air pollution on the number of emergency cardiovascular and respiratory patients admissions in Tehran hospitals during 2005-2014. Materials and Methods: This was cross-sectional study. First, the needed hourly information was received from the Bureau of Air Quality Control, and the Environmental Protection Agency of Tehran City. Then, the information was validated according to WHO criteria, and the statistical indicators and the stages required to quantify the harmful effects of air pollutants were calculated by using appropriate application. Results: According to the results, the number of cases admitted to the emergency ward of hospitals due to heart diseases (by exposure to particulate matter) during the

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection caused by a newly emergent coronavirus. Iran is one of the countries affected by the disease. Health center services have a critical role in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study with the aim of providing the functions and services of primary health care was performed by a health center in Iran during the COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the results, of the functions and services of the primary health care included purposive inter-organizational interaction and cooperation, risk analysis, planning, education and consultation, exercise, risk communication, environmental health, occupational health, and development of health infrastructures. Iran established and developed specific approaches for case identification, screening, and resource allocation to protect public health by primary health care services. Health center services are effective for a proper response to COVID-19 and a reduction in mortality by screening, rapid identification, and public education.