Paramilitary Provision of Adequate Disaster Response and Advancement of Public Health: The Case of the Texas State Guard and Operation Lone Star

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-416
Author(s):  
Ralph Jay Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
State Guard ◽  
State Defense

AbstractObjectiveThis article reports on State Defense Forces (SDFs) as tools for providing coordinated, disciplined, trained, and uniformed volunteers to augment civilian disaster response and advance public health.MethodsThis report draws on and describes the example of the Texas State Guard’s Medical Brigade and its Operation Lone Star.ResultsAlthough SDFs have downsides, since they are largely self-sufficient, they are far less expensive and burdensome yet nonetheless effective alternatives.ConclusionsFuture avenues for further inquiry are suggested. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:412–416)

Successful Hospital Evacuation After the Kumamoto Earthquakes, Japan, 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 517-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Nagata ◽  
Shinkichi Himeno ◽  
Akihiro Himeno ◽  
Manabu Hasegawa ◽  
Alan Kawarai Lefor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Hospital Bed Capacity ◽  
Hospital Bed ◽  
The Future ◽  
Bed Capacity

AbstractTwo major earthquakes struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan in April 2016. Disaster response was immediately provided, including disaster medical services. Many hospitals were damaged and patients needed immediate evacuation to alternative facilities. The hospital bed capacity of Kumamoto Prefecture was overwhelmed, and transportation of more than 100 patients was needed. Hospital evacuation was carried out smoothly with the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies. The overall operation was deemed a success because patients were transported in a timely manner without any significant adverse events. Upon repair of facilities in Kumamoto Prefecture, patients were returned safely to their previous facilities. The management of inpatients after this natural disaster in Kumamoto Prefecture can serve as a model for hospital evacuation with multi-agency coordination in the future. Future efforts are needed to improve interfacility communications immediately following a natural disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:517–521)

Developing a Consensus Framework for an Effective and Efficient Disaster Response Health System: A National Call to Action

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. S51-S54 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Lyznicki ◽  
Italo Subbarao ◽  
Georges C. Benjamin ◽  
James J. James
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
National Medical ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Hospital Systems

ABSTRACTEighteen national organizations, representing medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services, have worked together to create a framework for a national and regional disaster response health system that is scalable, multidisciplinary, and seamless, and based on an all-hazards approach. In July 2005 and June 2006 the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA) convened the AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Terrorism Injuries: Information Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) program. As cofacilitators, James J. James, MD, DrPH, MHA, director of the AMA Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, and Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP(E), APHA executive director, met with leaders from 16 national medical, dental, hospital, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services organizations in Chicago (2005) and New Orleans (2006) to deliberate the deficiencies in the medical and public health disaster response system and the lack of necessary linkages between key components of this system: the health care, emergency medical services, and public health sectors. The goal was to reach consensus on a set of overarching recommendations to improve and sustain health system preparedness and to combine each organization's advocacy expertise and experience to promote a shared policy agenda. The full summit report contains 53 consensus-based recommendations, which will serve as the framework for a coordinated national agenda for strengthening health system preparedness for terrorism and other disasters. The 9 most overarching critical recommendations from the report are highlighted here. Although the summit report presents important perspectives on the subject of preparedness for public health emergencies, we must understand that preparedness is a process and that these recommendations must be reviewed and refined continually over time. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2007;1(Suppl 1):S51–S54)

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness of Health Professions Students: A Multidisciplinary Assessment of Knowledge, Confidence, and Attitudes

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Markenson ◽  
Seth Woolf ◽  
Irwin Redlener ◽  
Michael Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Occupational Education ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Chemical Terrorism

AbstractObjectiveThis study assessed disaster medicine knowledge and competence and perceived self-efficacy and motivation for disaster response among medical, nursing, and dental students.MethodsSurvey methodology was used to evaluate knowledge, comfort, perceived competency, and motivation. Also, a nonresponder survey was used to control for responder bias.ResultsA total of 136 responses were received across all 3 schools. A nonresponder survey showed no statistical differences with regard to age, gender, previous presence at a disaster, and previous emergency response training. In spite of good performance on many knowledge items, respondent confidence was low in knowledge and in comfort to perform in disaster situations. Knowledge was strong in areas of infection control, decontamination, and biological and chemical terrorism but weak in areas of general emergency management, role of government agencies, and radiologic events. Variations in knowledge among the different health professions were slight, but overall the students believed that they required additional education. Finally, students were motivated not only to acquire more knowledge but to respond to disaster situations.ConclusionsHealth care students must be adequately educated to assume roles in disasters that are a required part of their professions. This education also is necessary for further disaster medicine education in either postgraduate or occupational education. As students’ performance on knowledge items was better than their perceived knowledge, it appears that a majority of this education can be achieved with the use of existing curricula, with minor modification, and the addition of a few focused subjects, which may be delivered through novel educational approaches. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:499-506)

The Utility of and Risks Associated With the Use of Spontaneous Volunteers in Disaster Response: A Survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Sauer ◽  
Christina Catlett ◽  
Robert Tosatto ◽  
Thomas D. Kirsch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Legal Liability ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Background Checks

AbstractObjectiveThe use of spontaneous volunteers (SV) is common after a disaster, but their limited training and experience can create a danger for the SVs and nongovernmental voluntary organizations (NVOs). We assessed the experience of NVOs with SVs during disasters, how they were integrated into the agency's infrastructure, their perceived value to previous responses, and liability issues associated with their use.MethodsOf the 51 National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters organizations that were contacted for surveys, 24 (47%) agreed to participate.ResultsOf the 24 participating organizations, 19 (72%) had encountered SVs during a response, most (79%) used them regularly, and 68% believed that SVs were usually useful. SVs were always credentialed by 2 organizations, and sometimes by 6 (31%). One organization always performed background checks; 53% provided just-in-time training for SVs; 26% conducted evaluations of SV performance; and 21% provided health or workers compensation benefits. Two organizations reported an SV death; 42% reported injuries; 32% accepted legal liability for the actions of SVs; and 16% were sued because of actions by SVs.ConclusionsThe use of SVs is widespread, but NVOs are not necessarily structured to incorporate them effectively. More structured efforts to integrate SVs are critical to safe and effective disaster response. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:65-69)

scholarly journals Development of a Remote Public Health Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in Response to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110048
Author(s):  
Tyler Marie Kiles ◽  
Tracy Hagemann ◽  
Brianna Felts ◽  
Catherine Crill
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Science Center ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
University Of Tennessee ◽  
Practice Experience ◽  
Phone Calls

Objectives: In order to meet the needs of the COVID-19 public health crisis and to actively engage students in patient care opportunities, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy in partnership with the Tennessee Health Department, developed a remote Public Health Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Elective. The objectives of this paper are to describe the development of and students’ experiences and learning outcomes during the elective. Faculty preceptor and experiential administrator’s perspectives are also described. Methods: This month-long APPE was developed in mid-March and delivered in April and May of 2020. The students volunteered in-person with the State of Tennessee COVID-19 Hotline call centers and conducted topic discussions and assignments virtually with a remote preceptor. Results: A total of 16 students completed this rotation experience. Student ratings of the experience were positive, and their knowledge improved in all topic areas. Students collectively completed approximately 700 hours manning the COVID-19 hotline and logged over 1,000 phone calls. Conclusions: In a time of unprecedented disruption to experiential learning, the development of this unique public health APPE directly benefited the college, the students, and the citizens of our state. The APPE described in this paper could be replicated in additional waves of the pandemic or adapted for similar disaster response.

Postexposure Interventions to Prevent Infection With HBV, HCV, or HIV, and Tetanus in People Wounded During Bombings and Other Mass Casualty Events—United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa E. Chapman ◽  
Ernest E. Sullivent ◽  
Lisa A. Grohskopf ◽  
Elise M. Beltrami ◽  
Joseph F. Perz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Acute Injury ◽  
Mass Casualties ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Centers For Disease Control

ABSTRACTPeople wounded during bombings or other events resulting in mass casualties or in conjunction with the resulting emergency response may be exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissue from other injured people and thus be at risk for bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, or tetanus. This report adapts existing general recommendations on the use of immunization and postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus and for occupational and nonoccupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens to the specific situation of a mass casualty event. Decisions regarding the implementation of prophylaxis are complex, and drawing parallels from existing guidelines is difficult. For any prophylactic intervention to be implemented effectively, guidance must be simple, straightforward, and logistically undemanding. Critical review during development of this guidance was provided by representatives of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and representatives of the acute injury care, trauma, and emergency response medical communities participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Terrorism Injuries: Information, Dissemination and Exchange project. The recommendations contained in this report represent the consensus of US federal public health officials and reflect the experience and input of public health officials at all levels of government and the acute injury response community. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:150–165)

Preparedness 3.0: Addressing the Future

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 728-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges C. Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Common Occurrence ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
State Sponsorship ◽  
The Future

ABSTRACTThe last 14 years has taught us that that we are facing a new reality; a reality in which public health emergencies are a common occurrence. Today, we live in a world with dangerous people without state sponsorship who are an enormous threat to our safety; one where emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are waiting to break out; a world where the benefits of globalization in trade, transportation, and social media brings threats to our communities faster and with a greater risk than ever before. Even climate change has entered into the preparedness equation, bringing with it the forces of nature in the form of extreme weather and its complications. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:728–729)

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