Objective  To evaluate the construction and capability of health emergency response in medical institutions in western region of Liaoning province.

  Methods  We conducted a questionnaire survey among all second-class and above medical institutions (n = 79) in western region (Jinzhou, Panjin and Huludao municipality) of Liaoning province between May 2017 and March 2018. A self-designed questionnaire was filled out by medical staff from departments involved in health emergency response in each of the institutions selected.

  Results  The mean scores for 9 domain capabilities in dealing with public health emergency were 4.56 ± 4.14 for medical treatment, 0.42 ± 0.52 for infectious disease control and prevention, 2.22 ± 1.28 for blood transfusion management, 3.23 ± 1.91 for laboratory detection, 3.24 ± 1.79 for logistics support and material reserve, 10.62 ± 1.75 for nosocomial infection control, 1.61 ± 0.55 for disease surveillance and reporting, 7.33 ± 3.48 for training on health emergency management, and 1.25 ± 1.20 for outcome assessment, respectively. Of all the medical institutions surveyed, 19 (24.05%), 42 (53.17%), and 18 (22.79%) were categorized as the institutions with high, moderate, and low health emergency response capability.

  Conclusion  The health emergency response capability is preliminarily established in medical institutions in western region of Liaoning province but the capability is at a moderate level for the majority of the institutions, suggesting that the construction of health emergency response capability needs to be promoted in the institutions.