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Primary Care Medical Practices: Are Community Health Care Providers Ready for Disasters?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2018

Rachel M. Peters ,
Thomas J. Hipper  and
Esther D. Chernak
Rachel M. Peters
Affiliation:
Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thomas J. Hipper
Affiliation:
Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Esther D. Chernak*
Affiliation:
Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Esther D. Chernak, MD, MPH, FACP, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Nesbitt Hall, Room 615, 3215 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (e-mail: dec48@drexel.edu).
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Abstract

Objective

This study seeks to determine the capacity of community primary care practices to meet the needs of patients during public health emergencies and to identify the barriers and resources necessary to participate in a coordinated response with public safety agencies.

Methods

The self-administered web-based survey was distributed in January 2014 via e-mail to primary care providers in Pennsylvania using the listservs of several professional societies.

Results

A total of 179 primary care providers participated in the survey. In total, 38% had practice continuity of operations plan in place and 26% reported that they had a plan for patient surge in the outpatient setting. Thirty percent reported that they were registered on the state Health Alert Network and 41% said they were able to communicate with patients during disasters. Only 8% of providers reported that they believed that their patients with special health care needs were prepared for a disaster, although over two-thirds of responding practices felt they could assist these patients with disaster preparedness. Providers indicated that more information regarding government agency plans and community resources, patient education materials, and more time to devote to counseling during patient encounters would improve their ability to prepare their patients with special health care needs for disasters. Providers also reported that they would benefit from partnerships to help the practice during emergencies and communications technology to reach large numbers of patients quickly.

Conclusions

Community-based primary care practices can be useful partners during public health emergencies. Efforts to promote continuity of operations planning, improved coordination with government and community partners, as well as preparedness for patients with special health care needs, would augment their capabilities and contribute to community resilience. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:128–132).

Keywords

preparednessdisasterprimary care providers
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 128 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2018 

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