scholarly journals (P2-17) “Burning Valentine,” a Simulated Evacuation Exercise of a Burn Unit (BU)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s141-s141
Author(s):  
E.L. Dhondt ◽  
T. Peeters ◽  
L. Orlans
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Fire Detection ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Hospital Emergency ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Evacuation Drills

BackgroundAccording to the Belgian Hospital Disaster Planning Act, all hospitals are required to have written disaster plans and to routinely conduct annual disaster drills. In 2010, the management of the Military Hospital decided to organize an evacuation exercise of the newly built 24-bed BU.AimTo evaluate this new BU's evacuation plan and drills and the overall hospital emergency incident response and command system.Methods and ResultsIt was decided to conduct a simulated evacuation exercise following an internal fire, before the BU effectively was put into use, thereby deploying fashioned simulated patients and visitors but bringing into action the regular attending medical, nursing and logistic staff. A multidisciplinary design and organizing team was launched, consisting of the hospitals disaster preparedness coordinator, the EMS-staff, external burn care, emergency incident management and operational engineering experts. The appointed objectives for evaluation were the knowledge of the regular evacuation drills, especially the clearance of an intensive care room; access to evacuation routes; visibility of safety guidelines; mission and tasks of the hospital's first response team and the medical incident manager; communication and information flow and the establishment of the hospital's coordination committee. In the mean time and following lessons learned, a number of mitigation measures have been instituted: adequate identification of evacuated rooms, new configuration of the fire detection alarm, optimized access to stairwells and elevators, adjustment of action cards and specific fire fighting training for hospital staff. Finally the decision was made not to purchase specific evacuation equipment for the movement of patients.ConclusionTaking advantage of the BU's provisional vacancy, a simulated hospital evacuation exercise increased the hospital emergency preparedness, awareness and response to disasters within the hospital, in particular in a critical care department, otherwise difficult to assess.

scholarly journals (A142) Simulated Evacuation of Three Critical Hospital Departments: A Comparison

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s40-s41 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.L. Dhondt ◽  
D. Lauwaert ◽  
C. Hendrickx
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Day Surgery ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Specialist Care ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Hospital Emergency ◽  
Evacuation Drills

BackgroundAccording to the Belgian Hospital Disaster Planning Act, all hospitals are required to have written disaster plans and to routinely conduct annual disaster drills. In 2010, three neighboring hospitals organized independently from each other an evacuation exercise of a critical care department (CCD): two university hospitals of a Dialysis Center and a One-day Surgery Clinic respectively and the military hospital of a Burn Unit.AimTo compare these CCD's evacuation plans and drills and the overall hospital emergency incident response and command system.Methods and ResultsConducting an evacuation exercise in a CCD, moving vulnerable highly dependent people towards an alternative shelter site is challenging, causing an important burden to ongoing medical specialist care, working staff and critical infrastructure. In all three CCD, it was decided to conduct a simulated evacuation exercise following an internal fire, thereby deploying fashioned simulated patients and visitors but bringing into action the regular attending medical, nursing and logistic staff. In each hospital a multidisciplinary design team was launched, consisting of the hospitals disaster preparedness coordinator, the EMS-staff, external emergency incident management and operational engineering experts. The appointed objectives for evaluation were the knowledge of the regular evacuation drills, especially the clearance of an intensive care or an operating room; access to evacuation routes; visibility of safety guidelines; need of specific evacuation equipment for the movement of patients; mission and tasks of the hospital's first response team and the medical incident manager; communication and information flow and the establishment of the hospital's coordination committee.Conclusion1. Simulated hospital evacuation exercises increased the hospital emergency preparedness, awareness and response to disasters within the hospital, in particular in a CCD, otherwise difficult to assess. 2. All three CCD experienced the same challenges and identified similar flaws. 3. A hospital disaster exercise manual might be of valuable help.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness Status of West Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virgil Kaussi Lokossou ◽  
Basil Benduri Kaburi ◽  
Delia Akosua Bandoh ◽  
Edgard-Marius Ouendo ◽  
Aboubacar Ouédraogo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
The West ◽  
Member States ◽  
Regional Coordination

Abstract Background From the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in late December 2019, countries have been stepping up their pandemic preparedness and response activities in accordance with WHO recommendations. Informed by the recent lessons learned from the West Africa Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, and subsequent investments made in public health emergency preparedness and response in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) is providing regional leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response. We assessed the COVID-19 pandemic readiness status of West Africa. Methods We conducted survey of all 15 ECOWAS member states between February 27 and March 15, 2020. We purposively selected a minimum of two respondents from each of the 15 ECOWAS member states – interviewing 37 in all using an interviewer-administered questionnaire based on the nine item WHO national capacity review tool for novel corona virus (nCOV). We also reviewed reports of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness meetings and trainings organized by WAHO. We performed a thematic analysis on the data and described the strengths and weaknesses of the ongoing pandemic readiness efforts of West Africa. Results Overall, the strengths of pandemic readiness of the region were: capacity to test 86.7% (13/15) of member states; functional incident management systems (100%); rapid response teams 100%, and at least two of the three tiers of field epidemiology workforce (100%). Within the region also, there existed good cross-border collaborations among member states, active participation of health ministers of member states in regional coordination meetings and decision making. Member states described the numbers of qualified biomedical scientists/technicians, field epidemiologists, risk communicators, and COVID-19 case management teams as inadequate. None of the member states had stockpiles of COVID-19 test kits, laboratory supplies, and personal protective equipment. Conclusion ECOWAS member states are taking appropriate COVID-19 pandemic preparedness measures in all pillars towards a regional response. Rather than a total lack, there are insufficiencies in numbers of skilled workforce, logistics, and supplies. Governments of member states are supportive of the coordination and technical direction of WAHO and WHO.

Preparing Hospitals in India for Covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 333-341
Author(s):  
Akanksha Nibudey ◽  
Vidya Baliga S
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Hospital Emergency ◽  
Current Outbreak ◽  
Operational Practices ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Care Capacity ◽  
Hospital Emergency Preparedness

Hospitals have important part in the human health organization toprovide necessary treatmentfor public, mainly in a calamity. During the current outbreak of COVID-19, and is in giving important needs and supplies will possibly interrupt the providing critical treatment due to not organized health-care capacity. Along with, a greater amount of personnelabsence can be predictable. A lack of important kits and materials can lead to restricted supplies to desirable care and have a direct impact on healthcare delivery. Anxiety can lead to possibly hamper recognized operational practices. Also in hospitals dealing with COVID 19 pandemic can be a difficulty. In spite of the challenging difficulties and problems expected, the positive and organized execution of important basic and definite arrangements can aid successful hospital-based organization for the period of a speedily progressing epidemic. Hospital emergency preparedness is a constant progression that association to the complete preparedness platform. Several principles and suggestions drawn in this article are general and appropriate to other incidents. The article gives checklist which is proposed to manage current situationby hospital emergency preparation platforms.

scholarly journals The Challenging but Imperative Path to Monoclonal Antibody Use Against COVID-19 for a Small Overseas Military Hospital

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer Shirk ◽  
Danielle Kerr ◽  
Crystal Saraceni ◽  
Garret Hand ◽  
Michael Terrenzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Military Hospital ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Fda Approval ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Naval Hospital

ABSTRACT Upon the U.S. FDA approval in early November for a monoclonal antibody proven to potentially mitigate adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, our small overseas community hospital U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain (USNH Rota) requested and received a limited number of doses. Concurrently, our host nation, which previously had reported the highest number of daily deaths from COVID-19, was deep within a second wave of infections, increasing hospital admissions, near intensive care unit capacity, and deaths. As USNH Rota was not normally equipped for the complex infusion center required to effectively deliver the monoclonal antibody, we coordinated a multi-directorate and multidisciplinary effort in order to set up an infusion room that could be dedicated to help with our fight against COVID. Identifying a physician team lead, with subject matter experts from nursing, pharmacy, facilities, and enlisted corpsmen, our team carefully ensured that all requisite steps were set up in advance in order to be able to identify the appropriate patients proactively and treat them safely with the infusion that has been clinically proven to decrease hospital admissions and mortality. Additional benefits included the establishment of an additional negative pressure room near our emergency room for both COVID-19 patients and, when needed, the monoclonal antibody infusion. In mid-January, a COVID-19-positive patient meeting the clinical criteria for monoclonal antibody infusion was safely administered this potentially life-saving medication, a first for small overseas hospitals. Here, we describe the preparation, challenges, obstacles, lessons learned, and successful outcomes toward effectively using the monoclonal antibody overseas.

A Global Collaboration for Community-Based Disaster Preparation and Health Promotion: Fukushima to Zuunbayan in Mongolia

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Chieri Yamada ◽  
Bolormaa Tsedendamba ◽  
Amarbileg Shajbalidir ◽  
Teruko Horiuchi ◽  
Katsuko Suenaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Global Collaboration ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Radiation Emergency ◽  
Disaster Preparation ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Excessive radiation exposure has adverse effects on health. In Fukushima, psychological issues such as anxiety are still affecting people nine years after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011. In light of the lessons learned from Fukushima communities, a joint Japanese and Mongolian research team introduced a community program to the Zuunbayan district in Mongolia, which is located near a uranium deposit, to promote good health by strengthening radiation emergency preparedness. The program, which commenced in 2017, aimed to increase community participation, education, information dissemination, and capacity of community preparedness. After two years a monitoring study showed that, out of 227 respondents, the proportions who thought that any level of radiation was dangerous decreased from 53.3% in 2017 to 33.9% in 2019. Moreover, half of the respondents knew that there were safe and unsafe radiation levels and that their community was safe. This global collaboration demonstrated that a lesson learned from a disaster can be applied to other countries and changed people’s recognition and behavior toward good health and disaster/emergency preparedness.

An Emergency Preparedness Response to Opioid-Prescribing Enforcement Actions in Maryland, 2018-2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 136 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9S-17S
Author(s):  
Jessica C. Acharya ◽  
B. Casey Lyons ◽  
Vijay Murthy ◽  
Jennifer Stanley ◽  
Carly Babcock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Enforcement Action ◽  
State And Local

Federal and state enforcement authorities have increasingly intervened on the criminal overprescribing of opioids. However, little is known about the health effects these enforcement actions have on patients experiencing disrupted access to prescription opioids or medication-assisted treatment/medication for opioid use disorder. Simultaneously, opioid death rates have increased. In response, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has worked to coordinate mitigation strategies with enforcement partners (defined as any federal, state, or local enforcement authority or other governmental investigative authority). One strategy is a standardized protocol to implement emergency response functions, including rapidly identifying health hazards with real-time data access, deploying resources locally, and providing credible messages to partners and the public. From January 2018 through October 2019, MDH used the protocol in response to 12 enforcement actions targeting 34 medical professionals. A total of 9624 patients received Schedule II-V controlled substance prescriptions from affected prescribers under investigation in the 6 months before the respective enforcement action; 9270 (96%) patients were residents of Maryland. Preliminary data indicate fatal overdose events and potential loss of follow-up care among the patient population experiencing disrupted health care as a result of an enforcement action. The success of the strategy hinged on endorsement by leadership; the establishment of federal, state, and local roles and responsibilities; and data sharing. MDH’s approach, data sources, and lessons learned may support health departments across the country that are interested in conducting similar activities on the front lines of the opioid crisis.

Not your typical “historian”

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-533
Author(s):  
Adrienne Lefevre ◽  
Madison Walter-Garcia ◽  
Kimberly Hanson ◽  
Julia Smith-Easley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Purpose In the incident command system (ICS) structure, response documentation is formally found within the planning section. However, longer term emergency responses have demonstrated the need for a flexible and innovative role that encompasses a variety of activities, including response documentation, communications science, real-time evaluation of major themes, and information management. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This need can be universally met through the functional role of “Historian,” a term specific to ICS, or in the case of public health response, incident management system (IMS). It should be noted that the Historian role discussed is not related to the academic study of history, but to archiving key successes and challenges during a response. Ideally the Historian should be activated at the start of an emergency response and remain active to capture the overall picture of the response, including internal information, such as lessons learned, response activities, and decision-making processes. Findings The Historian compiles details of response activities that inform leadership, donors and external communications products while alleviating pressures on the planning section. The primary, minimum output of an IMS Historian is a response timeline, which notes major internal and external events during a response with emphasis on major themes, lessons learned, and creating a user-friendly interface to display this information (see the list “Abbreviated Example of Hurricane Matthew Response Timeline” in the text). Originality/value In a world with competing priorities and ongoing emergencies, the Historian’s role of archiving details of response efforts can help the international public health community to share lessons learned and contribute to lower morbidity and mortality among those affected by emergencies.

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