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Assessing Levels of Hospital Emergency Preparedness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Bruria Adini ,
Avishay Goldberg ,
Danny Laor ,
Robert Cohen ,
Roni Zadok  and
Yaron Bar-Dayan
Bruria Adini
Affiliation:
Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Israel Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben GurionUniversity of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Avishay Goldberg
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben GurionUniversity of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Danny Laor
Affiliation:
Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Israel
Robert Cohen
Affiliation:
Center for Medical Education, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Roni Zadok
Affiliation:
Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Israel
Yaron Bar-Dayan*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben GurionUniversity of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel Israeli Defense Force Home Front Command, Israel
*
Col. Dr. Y. Bar-Dayan, MD, MHA, Chief Medical Officer, Israeli Defense Force Home Front Command, 16 Dolev St., Neve Savion, Or-Yehuda, ISRAEL E-mail: bardayan@netvision.net.il
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Abstract

Introduction:

Emergency preparedness can be defined by the preparedness pyramid, which identifies planning, infrastructure, knowledge and capabilities, and training as the major components of maintaining a high level of preparedness.The aim of this article is to review the characteristics of contingency plans for mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) and models for assessing the emergency preparedness of hospitals.

Characteristics of Contingency Plans:

Emergency preparedness should focus on community preparedness, a personnel augmentation plan, and communications and public policies for funding the emergency preparedness. The capability to cope with a MCI serves as a basis for preparedness for non-conventional events. Coping with chemical casualties necessitates decontamination of casualties, treating victims with acute stress reactions, expanding surge capacities of hospitals, and integrating knowledge through drills. Risk communication also is important.

Assessment of Emergency Preparedness:

An annual assessment of the emergency plan is required in order to assure emergency preparedness. Preparedness assessments should include: (1) elements of disaster planning; (2) emergency coordination; (3) communication; (4) training; (5) expansion of hospital surge capacity; (6) personnel; (7) availability of equipment; (8) stockpiles of medical supplies; and (9) expansion of laboratory capacities. The assessment program must be based on valid criteria that are measurable, reliable, and enable conclusions to be drawn. There are several assessment tools that can be used, including surveys, parameters, capabilities evaluation, and self-assessment tools.

Summary:

Healthcare systems are required to prepare an effective response model to cope with MCIs. Planning should be envisioned as a process rather than a production of a tangible product. Assuring emergency preparedness requires a structured methodology that will enable an objective assessment of the level of readiness.

Keywords

chemicalhospitalsmass-casualty incidentspreparednesspreparedness pyramidtoxicological
Type
Comprehensive Review
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 451 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

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