Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:04:38.984Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Setting Foundations for Developing Disaster Response Metrics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2017

Mahshid Abir*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Institute of Health Care Policy and Innovation, Acute Care Research Unit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia
Sue Anne Bell
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Neha Puppala
Affiliation:
CEP America, Department of Emergency Medicine, Providence Hospital, Washington, DC
Osama Awad
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
Melinda Moore
Affiliation:
RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Mahshid Abir, MD, MSc, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd., NCRC Bldg. 14, Rm. G226, Ann Arbor, MI (e-mail: mahshida@med.umich.edu).

Abstract

There are few reported efforts to define universal disaster response performance measures. Careful examination of responses to past disasters can inform the development of such measures. As a first step toward this goal, we conducted a literature review to identify key factors in responses to 3 recent events with significant loss of human life and economic impact: the 2003 Bam, Iran, earthquake; the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Using the PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) database, we identified 710 articles and retained 124 after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seventy-two articles pertained to the Haiti earthquake, 38 to the Indian Ocean tsunami, and 14 to the Bam earthquake. On the basis of this review, we developed an organizational framework for disaster response performance measurement with 5 key disaster response categories: (1) personnel, (2) supplies and equipment, (3) transportation, (4) timeliness and efficiency, and (5) interagency cooperation. Under each of these, and again informed by the literature, we identified subcategories and specific items that could be developed into standardized performance measures. The validity and comprehensiveness of these measures can be tested by applying them to other recent and future disaster responses, after which standardized performance measures can be developed through a consensus process. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:505–509)

Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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. Reuters. Nepal quake death toll becomes highest on record; dozens still missing. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/17/us-quake-nepal-idUSKBN0O20LL20150517#ivHJjkIbo1uoCx7g.97. Published May 17, 2015. Accessed January 5, 2017.Google Scholar
2. United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Performance and Accountability Framework. UNOCHA website. http://www.unocha.org/cerf/reportsevaluations/evaluations/country-reviews. Published 2015. Accessed January 5, 2017.Google Scholar
3. Federal Emergency Management Agency. National Response Framework. FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/national-response-framework. Accessed January 5, 2017.Google Scholar
4. Norton, I, von Schreeb, J, Aitken, P, et al. Classification and Minimum Standards for Foreign Medical Teams. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2013.Google Scholar
5. Adini, B, Verbeek, L, Trapp, S, et al. Continued vigilance - development of an online evaluation tool for assessing preparedness of medical facilities for biological events. Front Public Health. 2014;2:35. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00035.Google Scholar
6. Rådestad, M, Jirwe, M, Castrén, M, et al. Essential key indicators for disaster medical response suggested to be included in a national uniform protocol for documentation of major incidents: a Delphi study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2013;21(1):68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-7241-21-68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Agboola, F, Bernard, D, Savoia, E, et al. Development of an online toolkit for measuring performance in health emergency response exercises. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):503-508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X15005117.Google Scholar
8. Belfroid, E, Hautvast, JLA, Hilbink, M, et al. Selection of key recommendations for quality indicators describing good quality outbreak response. BMC Infect Dis. 2015;15(1):166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12879-015-0896-x.Google Scholar
9. Daftary, RK, Cruz, AT, Reaves, EJ, et al. Making disaster care count: consensus formulation of measures of effectiveness for natural disaster acute phase medical response. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(5):461-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X14000922.Google Scholar
10. Kun, KE, Rose, DA, Morris, T, et al. Conceptualizing and measuring community preparedness within public health preparedness and response: complexities and lessons learned. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2014;20(4):E1-E5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0b013e3182a5bbcc.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. McCunn, M, Ashburn, MA, Floyd, TF, et al. An organized, comprehensive, and security-enabled strategic response to the Haiti earthquake: a description of pre-deployment readiness preparation and preliminary experience from an academic anesthesiology department with no preexisting international dis. Anesth Analg . 2010;111(6):1438-1444. http://dx.doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181f42fd3.Google Scholar
12. Abolghasemi, H, Radfar, MH, Khatami, M, et al. International medical response to a natural disaster: lessons learned from the Bam earthquake experience. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(3):141-147. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16892878. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00003599.Google Scholar
13. Bridgewater, FHG, Aspinall, ET, Booth, JPM, et al. Team Echo: observations and lessons learned in the recovery phase of the 2004 Asian tsunami. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(1):s20-s25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16602269. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00015831.Google Scholar
14. Zoraster, RM. Barriers to disaster coordination: health sector coordination in Banda Aceh following the South Asia Tsunami. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(1):s13-s18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16602268. Accessed May 4, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X0001582X.Google Scholar
15. Aitken, P, Leggat, P, Robertson, A, et al. Health and safety aspects of deployment of Australian disaster medical assistance team members: results of a national survey. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2009;7(5):284-290. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.03.005.Google Scholar
16. Telford, J, Cosgrave, J. The international humanitarian system and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. Disasters. 2007;31(1):1-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2007.00337.x.Google Scholar
17. Millard, WB. Starting from scratch: Haiti’s earthquake and disaster planning. Ann Emerg Med. 2010;55(5):A17-A22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20425904. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2010.03.018.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Jaffer, AK, Campo, RE, Gaski, G, et al. An academic center’s delivery of care after the Haitian earthquake. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153(4):262-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-153-4-201008170-00266.Google Scholar
19. Hopmeier, MJ, Pape, JW, Paulison, D, et al. Reflections on the initial multinational response to the earthquake in Haiti. Popul Health Manag. 2010;13(3):105-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/pop.2010.1331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20. Peleg, K, Kreiss, Y, Ash, N, et al. Optimizing medical response to large-scale disasters: the ad hoc collaborative health care system. Ann Surg . 2011;253(2):421-423. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e318206bedf.Google Scholar
21. Lane, DA. Medical support to Sri Lanka in the wake of tsunamis: planning considerations and lessons learned. Mil Med . 2006;171(10 suppl 1):19-23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17447616. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED.171.1S.19.Google Scholar
22. Smith, J, Fink, S, Hansch, S, et al. Session 1.4: health services delivery: a critical review of experience. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2005;20(6):389-392. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16496619. Accessed May 2, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00002946.Google Scholar
23. Roy, N. The Asian tsunami: Pan-American Health Organization disaster guidelines in action in India. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(5):310-315. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17297900. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00003939.Google Scholar
24. Bayard, D. Haiti earthquake relief, phase two--long-term needs and local resources. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(20):1858-1861. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1003839.Google Scholar
25. Auerbach, PS, Norris, RL, Menon, AS, et al. Civil-military collaboration in the initial medical response to the earthquake in Haiti. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(10):e32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1001555.Google Scholar
26. Rosborough, S. A tale of two responses: Haiti earthquake highlights the need for training in international disaster response. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010;4(1):21-23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20389191. Accessed April 29, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1935789300002378.Google Scholar
27. Yamada, S, Gunatilake, RP, Roytman, TM, et al. The Sri Lanka tsunami experience. Disaster Manag Response. 2006;4(2):38-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dmr.2006.01.001.Google Scholar
28. Birnbaum, ML. STOP!!!!! Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010;25(2):97-98. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20467984. Accessed May 2, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00007780.Google Scholar
29. Van Hoving, DJ, Wallis, LA, Docrat, F, et al. Haiti disaster tourism--a medical shame. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010;25(3):201-202. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20586008. Accessed March 27, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00008001.Google Scholar
30. Bateman, C. Haiti tragedy shakes up SA’s emergency response planning. S Afr Med J. 2010;100(9):552-553. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20822635. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.4429.Google Scholar
31. De Silva, T, Chikersal, J, Snoad, N, et al. Panel 2.18: logistics, information technology (IT), and telecommunications in crisis management. Prehosp Disaster Med. 20(6):464-467. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16496638. Accessed February 23, 2016.Google Scholar
32. Kapila, M, McGarry, N, Emerson, E, et al. Health aspects of the tsunami disaster in Asia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2005;20(6):368-377. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16496615. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00002909.Google Scholar
33. Joyce, N. Civilian-military coordination in the emergency response in Indonesia. Mil Med . 2006;171(10)(suppl 1):66-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17447628. Accessed May 1, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED.171.1S.66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34. Lee, VJ, Low, E, Ng, YY, Teo, C. Disaster relief and initial response to the earthquake and tsunami in Meulaboh, Indonesia. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2005;34(9):586-590. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16284685. Accessed May 1, 2015.Google Scholar
35. Rapid health response, assessment, and surveillance after a tsunami--Thailand, 2004-2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005;54(3):61-64. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15674183. Accessed May 4, 2015.Google Scholar