Survey of Preventable Disaster Death at Medical Institutions in Areas Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: A Retrospective Preliminary Investigation of Medical Institutions in Miyagi Prefecture

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Yamanouchi ◽  
Hiroyuki Sasaki ◽  
Miho Tsuruwa ◽  
Yuzuru Ueki ◽  
Yoshitaka Kohayagawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Medical Resources ◽  
Emergency Shelters ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
Common Causes

AbstractProblemThe 2011, magnitude (M) 9, Great East Japan Earthquake and massive tsunami caused widespread devastation and left approximately 18,500 people dead or missing. The incidence of preventable disaster death (PDD) during the Great East Japan Earthquake remains to be clarified; the present study investigated PDD at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in order to improve disaster medical systems.MethodsA total of 25 hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture (Japan) that were disaster base hospitals (DBHs), or had at least 20 patient deaths between March 11, 2011 and April 1, 2011, were selected to participate based on the results of a previous study. A database was created using the medical records of all patient deaths (n=868), and PDD was determined from discussion with 10 disaster health care professionals.ResultsA total of 102 cases of PDD were identified at the participating hospitals. The rate of PDD was higher at coastal hospitals compared to inland hospitals (62/327, 19.0% vs 40/541, 7.4%; P<.01). No difference was observed in overall PDD rates between DBHs and general hospitals (GHs); however, when analysis was limited to cases with an in-hospital cause of PDD, the PDD rate was higher at GHs compared to DBHs (24/316, 7.6% vs 21/552, 3.8%; P<.05). The most common causes of PDD were: insufficient medical resources, delayed medical intervention, disrupted lifelines, deteriorated environmental conditions in homes and emergency shelters at coastal hospitals, and delayed medical intervention at inland hospitals. Meanwhile, investigation of PDD causes based on type of medical institution demonstrated that, while delayed medical intervention and deteriorated environmental conditions in homes and emergency shelters were the most common causes at DBHs, insufficient medical resources and disrupted lifelines were prevalent causes at GHs.ConclusionPreventable disaster death at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred mainly at coastal hospitals. Insufficient resources (at GHs), environmental factors (at coastal hospitals), and delayed medical intervention (at all hospitals) constituted the major potential contributing factors. Further investigation of all medical institutions in Miyagi Prefecture, including those with fewer than 20 patient deaths, is required in order to obtain a complete picture of the details of PDD at medical institutions in the disaster area.YamanouchiS, SasakiH, TsuruwaM, UekiY, KohayagawaY, KondoH, OtomoY, KoidoY, KushimotoS. Survey of preventable disaster death at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: a retrospective preliminary investigation of medical institutions in Miyagi Prefecture. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(2):1-7.

Survey of Preventable Disaster Deaths at Medical Institutions in Areas Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: Retrospective Survey of Medical Institutions in Miyagi Prefecture

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Yamanouchi ◽  
Hiroyuki Sasaki ◽  
Hisayoshi Kondo ◽  
Tomohiko Mase ◽  
Yasuhiro Otomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Support ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Medical Resources ◽  
Retrospective Survey ◽  
Emergency Shelters ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture

AbstractIntroductionIn 2015, the authors reported the results of a preliminary investigation of preventable disaster deaths (PDDs) at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011). This initial survey considered only disaster base hospitals (DBHs) and hospitals that had experienced at least 20 patient deaths in Miyagi Prefecture (Japan); therefore, hospitals that experienced fewer than 20 patient deaths were not investigated. This was an additional study to the previous survey to better reflect PDD at hospitals across the entire prefecture.MethodOf the 147 hospitals in Miyagi Prefecture, the 14 DBHs and 82 non-DBHs that agreed to participate were included in an on-site survey. A database was created based on the medical records of 1,243 patient deaths that occurred between March 11, 2011 and April 1, 2011, followed by determination of their status as PDDs.ResultsA total of 125 cases of PDD were identified among the patients surveyed. The rate of PDD was significantly higher at coastal hospitals than inland hospitals (17.3% versus 6.3%; P<.001). Preventable disaster deaths in non-DBHs were most numerous in facilities with few general beds, especially among patients hospitalized before the disaster in hospitals with fewer than 100 beds. Categorized by area, the most frequent causes of PDD were: insufficient medical resources, disrupted lifelines, delayed medical intervention, and deteriorated environmental conditions in homes and emergency shelters in coastal areas; and were delayed medical intervention and disrupted lifelines in inland areas. Categorized by hospital function, the most frequent causes were: delayed medical intervention, deteriorated environmental conditions in homes and emergency shelters, and insufficient medical resources at DBHs; while those at non-DBHs were disrupted lifelines, insufficient medical resources, delayed medical intervention, and lack of capacity for transport within the area.Conclusion:Preventable disaster death at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred mainly at coastal hospitals with insufficient medical resources, disrupted lifelines, delayed medical intervention, and deteriorated environmental conditions in homes and emergency shelters constituting the main contributing factors. Preventing PDD, in addition to strengthening organizational support and functional enhancement of DBHs, calls for the development of business continuity plans (BCPs) for medical facilities in directly affected areas, including non-DBHs.YamanouchiS, SasakiH, KondoH, MaseT, OtomoY, KoidoY, KushimotoS. Survey of preventable disaster deaths at medical institutions in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: retrospective survey of medical institutions in Miyagi Prefecture. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(5):515–522.

scholarly journals CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS THAT SOUGHT MEDICAL HELP DUE TO INTRACRANIAL INJURY IN MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF RYAZAN REGION IN 2015

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
G B. Artemieva ◽  
A A. Kosolapov
Keyword(s):  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Intracranial Injury ◽  
Neurosurgical Department ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Clinical Hospital ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Working Age ◽  
The Given

The article provides the structure analysis of patients who were admitted to hospitals, time of treatment and its outcomes in the medical organizations of Ryazan region in 2015. Considering the given characteristics of the patients the most common causes of intracranial injuries, the patterns of admissions to medical institutions, average time of treatment and the outcomes of injuries per municipal districts in Ryazan region were educed, and approaches how to organize medical help of «neurosurgery» profile were also suggested.In 2015, non-work, especially domestic, intracranial injuries amounted to the vast majority (98,9%) of casesin the Ryazan region. Men prevailed among injured (55,7%), with men of working age more likely to get a street (60,1%) and transport (67,8%) intracranial injury. The most common cause of intracranial injury in women was domestic trauma.The most severe patients with intracranial injury in Ryazan in the vast majority of cases receive medical help in a specialized neurosurgical department of regional clinical hospital, which improves the quality of care and the effectiveness of medical intervention. This is confirmed by the decrease in mortality from intracranial injuries in both specialized neurosurgical department of regional clinical hospital and medical organizations in the districts of Ryazan region.To improve the efficiency of neurosurgical care in Ryazan region, it is advisable to develop a detailed routing scheme for patients with intracranial injury, considering the equipment and personnel provision of medical organizations, as well as timing indicators of the transport and technological routes.

scholarly journals Infection Control Campaign at Evacuation Centers in Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 824-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Kanamori ◽  
Hiroyuki Kunishima ◽  
Koichi Tokuda ◽  
Mitsuo Kaku
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
Control Campaign

Preliminary investigation of a late Wisconsinan fauna from K1 cave, Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), Canada

2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn L. Ramsey ◽  
Paul A. Griffiths ◽  
Daryl W. Fedje ◽  
Rebecca J. Wigen ◽  
Quentin Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Human Migration ◽  
Early Holocene ◽  
Haida Gwaii ◽  
Queen Charlotte Islands ◽  
Late Wisconsinan ◽  
Early Human

Recent investigations of a limestone solution cave on the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) have yielded skeletal remains of fauna including late Pleistocene and early Holocene bears, one specimen of which dates to ca. 14,400 14C yr B.P. This new fossil evidence sheds light on early postglacial environmental conditions in this archipelago, with implications for the timing of early human migration into the Americas.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rate Trends in the Tsunami-Disaster-Affected Area Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Orui ◽  
Suzuka Saeki ◽  
Yuki Kozakai ◽  
Shuichiro Harada ◽  
Mizuho Hayashi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Tsunami Disaster ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: People who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) were expected to have additional levels of psychological burden resulting from the stressful conditions imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; consequently, suicide rates may increase. Aim: We aimed to carry out continuous monitoring of suicide rates in the affected area following the GEJE under COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Method: This descriptive study monitored the suicide rates of the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture, where disaster-related mental health activities have been continuing following severe damage caused by the tsunami disaster. An exponential smoothing time-series analysis that converted suicide rates into a smooth trend was conducted. Results: Although the suicide rate in the affected area was higher than the national average in February 2020, it showed a declining trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, while showing an increase trend in the national and non-affected areas. Limitations: Uncertainty about the direct reasons for suicide and the short time-scale observation are the limitations of this study. Conclusion: Although the national suicide rate increased, this was not the case for the affected area. Our findings may provide important lessons for suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, which needs careful regional monitoring of the state of suicide and of high-risk approaches such as disaster-related mental health activities.

scholarly journals Onsite Medical Rounds and Fact-finding Activities Conducted by Nippon Medical School in Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 401-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Fuse ◽  
Yutaka Igarashi ◽  
Toshihiko Tanaka ◽  
Shiei Kim ◽  
Atsuko Tsujii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Nippon Medical School ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
Fact Finding

Regional Birth Outcomes after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junichi Sugawara ◽  
Noriyuki Iwama ◽  
Tetsuro Hoshiai ◽  
Hideki Tokunaga ◽  
Hidekazu Nishigori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Risk Analysis ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
Preterm Birth Rate ◽  
Regional Risk Analysis

AbstractObjectivesThis study was aimed to analyze post-disaster birth outcomes in coastal and inland regions of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.MethodsPrimary data sets were compiled from birth records of obstetric facilities and 12,808 patients were analyzed for baseline birth outcomes by region. Regional risk analysis of the low-birth-weight rate and premature birth rate were conducted using multi-level logistic regression analysis.ResultsFrom overall baseline birth outcomes, a preterm birth rate was 4.6% and low-birth-weight rate was 8.8%. Regional analysis revealed that a preterm birth rate was 3.2% (coastal) and 5.0% (inland), respectively, and the rate of low birth weight was 6.5% in the coastal and 8.5% in the inland region. In the risk analysis of low-birth-weight rate and preterm birth rate, the risk in the coastal region could not be considered any higher than in the inland region (adjusted odds ratio 0.91 [0.73-1.14] and 0.85 [0.46-1.59], respectively).ConclusionsThe incidence of preterm birth and low birth weight were not adversely affected by the disaster. Early transfer and intensive medical intervention may have led to those findings. Further survey will be necessary to determine the long-term effects in both mothers and children.SugawaraJ, IwamaN, HoshiaiT, TokunagaH, NishigoriH, MetokiH, OkamuraK, YaegashiN. Regional birth outcomes after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(2):215–219.

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