Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T23:04:03.709Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Operation of Emergency Operating Centers During Mass Casualty Incidents in Taiwan: A Disaster Management Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

Jet-Chau Wen ,
Chia-Chou Tsai ,
Mei-Hsuan Chen  and
Wei-Ta Chang
Jet-Chau Wen
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
Chia-Chou Tsai*
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
Mei-Hsuan Chen
Affiliation:
Huatan Township Health Center, Huatan Township, Changhua County, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Wei-Ta Chang
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Chia-Chou Tsai, Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Rd, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan, ROC (e-mail: g9510816@yuntech.edu.tw).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

On April 27, 2011, a train derailed and crashed in Taiwan, causing a mass casualty incident (MCI) that was similar to a previous event and with similar consequences. In both disasters, the emergency operating centers (EOCs) could not effectively integrate associated agencies to deal with the incident. The coordination and utilization of resources were inefficient, which caused difficulty in command structure operation and casualty evacuation.

Methods

This study was designed to create a survey questionnaire with problem items using disaster management phases mandated by Taiwan’s Emergency Medical Care Law (EMCL), use statistical methods (t test) to analyze the results and issues the EOCs encountered during the operation, and propose solutions for those problems.

Results

Findings showed that EOCs lacked authority to intervene or coordinate with associated agencies. Also, placing emphasis on the recovery phase should improve future prevention and response mechanisms.

Conclusions

To improve the response to MCIs, the EMCL needs to be amended to give EOCs the lead during disasters; use feedback from the recovery phase to improve future disaster management and operation coordination; and establish an information-sharing platform across agencies to address all aspects of relief work.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-6)

Keywords

disaster managementemergency medical service systememergency operation centersmass casualty incidents
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 426 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Sayed, MJ. Emergency response to mass casualty incidents in Lebanon. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7:433-438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Walsh, L, Subbarao, I, Gebbie, K, et al. Core competencies for disaster medicine and public health. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2012;6:44-52.Google Scholar
3. Hu, SC. Clinical and demographic characteristics of 13,911 medical emergency patients. J Formos Med Assoc. 1991;90:675-680.Google Scholar
4. Shih, FY, Ma, MH, Chen, SC. ED overcrowding in Taiwan: facts and strategies. Am J Emerg Med. 1999;17:198-202.Google Scholar
5. Hansagi, H, Olsson, M, Sjoberg, S. Frequent use of the hospital emergency department is indicative of high use of other health care services. Ann Emerg Med. 2001;37:561-567.Google Scholar
6. Huang, JA, Tsai, WC, Chen, YC. Factors associated with frequent use of emergency services in a medical center. J Formos Med Assoc. 2003;102:222-228.Google Scholar
7. Okuyemi, KS, Frey, B. Describing and predicting frequent users of an emergency department. J Assoc Acad Minor Phys. 2001;12:119-123.Google Scholar
8. Olsson, M, Hansagi, H. Repeated use of the emergency department: qualitative study of the patient’s perspective. Emerg Med J. 2001;18:430-434.Google Scholar
9. Huang, JA, Weng, RH, Lai, CS, Hu, JS. Exploring medical utilization patterns of emergency department users. J Formos Med Assoc. 2008;107:119-128.Google Scholar
10. Stopford, BM. The national disaster medical system—America’s medical readiness force. Disaster Manag Response. 2005;3:53-56.Google Scholar
11. Hoffner, P, Keck, B, Hemphill, R, Wells, N. Integrating physician response into an academic medical center emergency operations response plan. J Emerg Nurs. 2009;4:343-347.Google Scholar
12. Frykberg, ER. Disaster and mass casualty management: a commentary on the American College of Surgeons position statement. J Am Coll Surg. 2003;197:857-859.Google Scholar
13. Bostick, N, Subbarao, I, Burkle, FM Jr, Hsu, EB, Armstrong, JH, James, JJ. Disaster triage systems for large-scale catastrophic events. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2008;2(suppl 1):35-39.Google Scholar
14. Bechtal, GA, Hansberry, AH, Brown, DG. Disaster planning and resource allocation in health services. Hosp Mater Manage Q. 2000;22:9-17.Google Scholar
15. Yancey, AH II, Fuhri, PD, Pillay, Y, Greenwald, I. World Cup 2010 planning: an integration of public health and medical systems. Public Health. 2008;122:1020-1029.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Reilly, M, Markenson, D. Hospital referral patterns: how emergency medical care is accessed in a disaster. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010;4:226-231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17. Ma, MH, Ko, CI, Lin, CH, et al. Design and implementation of regionalization of emergency medical services systems in Taiwan [in Chinese]. Taipei, Taiwan: Department of Health; 2007:10. Research Report DOH96-TD- H -113-002.Google Scholar
18. Wu, SC, Chen, S, Yeh, ST, et al. Reorganization of the network of emergency health care systems in Taiwan–using questionnaire to summary [in Chinese]. Taipei, Taiwan: Department of Health; 2007:10. Research Report DOH96-TD- H -113-003.Google Scholar
19. Lerner, EB, Cone, DC, Weinstein, ES, et al. Mass casualty triage: an evaluation of the science and refinement of a national guideline. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011;5:129-137.Google Scholar
20. Meeds, HK. Communication challenges during incidents of national significance: a lesson from Hurricane Katrina. Research Project Report. Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania: US Army War College; 2006.Google Scholar
21. Tseng, JM, Kuo, CY, Liu, MY, et al. Emergency response plan for boiler explosion with toxic chemical releases at Nan-Kung industrial park in central Taiwan. Process Safe Environ Protect. 2008;86(6):397-414.Google Scholar
22. Tseng, JM, Shu, CM, Horng, JJ, Kuon, CM, Hsu, HI. Planning an emergency response centre in Southern Taiwan Science Park. Process Safe Environ Protect. 2007;85(2):125-132.Google Scholar
23. Burkle, F Jr, Hsu, E, Loehr, M, et al. Definition and functions of health unified command and emergency operations centers for large-scale bioevent disasters within the existing ICS. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2007;1:135-141.Google Scholar
24. Mattox, K, McSwain, N, Frykberg, E, et al. Position statement from the Steering Committee of the Atlantic-Gulf States Disaster Medical Coalition: integrated collaborative networks will facilitate mass casualty medical response. J Am Coll Surg. 2007;205:612-616.Google Scholar