scholarly journals Use of Moulage in Multi-Disciplinary Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Training: Cost-Effective Tool or an Expectation?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s19-s19
Author(s):  
Sasha Rihter ◽  
Veronica Coppersmith

Introduction:A 2018 poll by the American College of Emergency Physicians shows 93% of surveyed doctors believe their emergency department is not fully prepared for patient surge capacity in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. While an emergency disaster plan is activated during any incident where resources are overwhelmed, many US emergency physicians today think of a mass casualty incident (MCI) as the inciting event. To better prepare our communities, an MCI simulation took place in Chicago 2018 with participation from local and federal representatives. Included were Chicago fire, police, and emergency medical services agencies, emergency medicine physicians, resident participants, and medical student volunteer victims.Aim:The study’s aim was to determine whether resource intensive moulage was an expected component or a beneficial adjunct, if moulage-based training would improve physician preparedness, and if such a training would increase the likelihood of future involvement in local disaster preparations. Analysis was performed on pre- and post-training surveys completed by participants. By reviewing the benefits versus cost, future MCI simulation planners can efficiently use their funds to achieve training goals.Methods:Thirty-two emergency medicine physicians were surveyed before and after a five-hour training session on October 20, 2018, which included 89 moulage victims. Twenty-four after-event surveys were completed. All completed surveys were utilized in data analysis.Results:Of polled participants, a 68% improvement in general preparedness was achieved. While only 19% of participants cited current involvement in their facility’s disaster planning in pre-event survey, the likelihood of involvement after training was 8.2/10. Overall, the importance of moulage an essential component to such trainings remained constant.Discussion:Moulage is an expected and crucial element to MCI training and should be incorporated as extensively as resources allow. MCI trainings improve physician preparedness and potentially increase physician involvement in disaster planning at home institutions.

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s30-s30
Author(s):  
G.E.A. Khalifa

BackgroundDisasters and incidents with hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of casualties are not generally addressed in hospital disaster plans. Nevertheless, they may occur, and recent disasters around the globe suggest that it would be prudent for hospitals to improve their preparedness for a mass casualty incident. Disaster, large or small, natural or man-made can strike in many ways and can put the hospital services in danger. Hospitals, because of their emergency services and 24 hour a day operation, will be seen by the public as a vital resource for diagnosis, treatment, and follow up for both physical and psychological care.ObjectivesDevelop a hospital-based disaster and emergency preparedness plan. Consider how a disaster may pose various challenges to hospital disaster response. Formulate a disaster plan for different medical facility response. Assess the need for further changes in existing plans.MethodsThe author uses literature review and his own experience to develop step-by-step logistic approach to hospital disaster planning. The author presents a model for hospital disaster preparedness that produces a living document that contains guidelines for review, testing, education, training and update. The model provides the method to develop the base plan, functional annexes and hazard specific annexes.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1357633X1989165
Author(s):  
Neal Sikka ◽  
Hartmut Gross ◽  
Aditi U Joshi ◽  
Edward Shaheen ◽  
Michael J Baker ◽  
...  

The American College of Emergency Physicians Emergency Telehealth Section was charged with development of a working definition of emergency telehealth that aligns with the College’s definition of emergency medicine. A modified Delphi method was used by the section membership who represented telehealth providers in both private and public health-care delivery systems, academia and industry, rural and urban settings. Presented in this manuscript is the final definition of emergency telehealth developed with an additional six clarifying statements to address the context of the definition. Emergency telehealth is a core domain of emergency medicine and is inclusive of remotely providing all types of care for acute conditions of any kind requiring expeditious care irrespective of any prior relationship. The development of this definition is important to the global community of emergency physicians and all patients seeking acute care to ensure that appropriately trained clinicians are providing the highest quality of emergency services via the telehealth modality. We recommend implementing emergency telehealth in a manner that ensures appropriate qualifications of providers, appropriate/parity reimbursement for telehealth services and, most importantly, the delivery of quality care to patients in a safe, efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-165
Author(s):  
Kay Vonderschmidt, DSc, MPA, MS, NR-P

This mixed methods study explored surge planning for patients who will need rehabilitative care after a mass casualty incident. Planning for a patient surge incident typically considers only prehospital and hospital care. However, in many cases, disaster patients need rehabilitation for which planning is often overlooked. The purpose of this study was to explore this hidden dimension of patient rehabilitation for surge planning and preparedness and ask:1. To what extent can an analysis of standard patient acuity assessment tools [Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment and Injury Severity Score] be used to project future demand for admission to rehabilitative care?2. What improvements to medical disaster planning are needed to address patient surge related to rehabilitation?This study found that standard patient benchmarks can be used to project demand for rehabilitation following a mass casualty incident, and argues that a reconceptualization of surge planning to include rehabilitation would improve medical disaster planning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan P. Vargas, MD, MSc ◽  
Ives Hubloue, MD, PhD ◽  
Jazmín J. Pinzón, MD ◽  
Alejandra Caycedo Duque, MD

Mass casualty incident (MCI) can occur at any time and place and health care institutions must be prepared to deal with these incidents. Emergency department staff rarely learn how to triage MCI patients during their medical or nurse degrees, or through on-the-job training. This study aims to evaluate the effect of training and experience on the MCI triage performance of emergency personnel.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional prospective study that analyzed the performance of 94 emergency department staff on the triage classifications of 50 trauma patients, before and after a short training in MCI triage, while taking into account their academic background and work experience.Results: The participants were assigned initially to one of two groups: low experience if they had less than 5 years of practice, and high experience if they had more than 5 years of practice. In the low experience group, the initial accuracy was 45.76 percent, over triage 45.84 percent, and subtriage 8.38 percent. In the high experience group, the initial accuracy was 53.80 percent, over triage 37.66 percent, and sub triage 8.57 percent.Postintervention Results: In the low experience group, the post intervention accuracy was 63.57 percent, over triage 21.15 percent, and subtriage 15.30 percentage. In the high experience group, the post-intervention accuracy was 67.66 percentage, over triage 15.19 percentage, and subtriage 17.14 percentage.  Conclusion: Upon completion of this study, it can be concluded that MCI triage training significantly improved the performance of all those involved in the workshop and that experience plays an important role in MCI triage performance.


2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alzamani M. Idrose ◽  
Fikri M. Abu-Zidan ◽  
Nurul Liana Roslan ◽  
Khairul Izwan M. Hashim ◽  
Saiyidi Mohd Azizi Mohd Adibi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Two city trains collided in an underground tunnel on 24 May 2021 at the height of COVID-19 pandemic near the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, immediately after the evening rush hours. We aim to evaluate the management of this mass casualty incident highlighting the lessons learned to be used in preparedness for similar incidents that may occur in other major cities worldwide. Methods Information regarding incident site and hospital management response were analysed. Data on demography, triaging, injuries and hospital management of patients were collected according to a designed protocol. Challenges, difficulties and their solutions were reported. Results The train's emergency response team (ERT) has shut down train movements towards the incident site. Red zone (in the tunnel), yellow zone (the station platform) and green zone (outside the station entrance) were established. The fire and rescue team arrived and assisted the ERT in the red zone. Incident command system was established at the site. Medical base station was established at the yellow zone. Two hundred and fourteen passengers were in the trains. Sixty-four of them were injured. They had a median (range) ISS of 2 (1–43), and all were sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Six (9.4%) patients were clinically triaged as red (critical), 19 (29.7%) as yellow (semi-critical) and 39 (60.9%) as green (non-critical). HKL's disaster plan was activated. All patients underwent temperature and epidemiology link assessment. Seven (10.9%) patients were admitted to the hospital (3 to the ICU, 3 to the ward and 1 to a private hospital as requested by the patient), while the rest 56 (87.5%) were discharged home. Six (9.4%) needed surgery. The COVID-19 tests were conducted on seven patients (10.9%) and were negative. There were no deaths. Conclusions The mass casualty incident was handled properly because of a clear standard operating procedure, smooth coordination between multi-agencies and the hospitals, presence of a 'binary' system for 'COVID-risk' and 'non-COVID-risk' areas, and the modifications of the existing disaster plan. Preparedness for MCIs is essential during pandemics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 433-439
Author(s):  
Simone Dell’Era ◽  
Olivier Hugli ◽  
Fabrice Dami

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe present study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Swiss hospital disaster preparedness in 2016 compared with the 2006 data.MethodsA questionnaire was addressed in 2016 to all heads responsible for Swiss emergency departments (EDs).ResultsOf the 107 hospitals included, 83 (78%) returned the survey. Overall, 76 (92%) hospitals had a plan in case of a mass casualty incident, and 76 (93%) in case of an accident within the hospital itself. There was a lack in preparedness for specific situations: less than a third of hospitals had a specific plan for nuclear/radiological, biological, chemical, and burns (NRBC+B) patients: nuclear/radiological (14; 18%), biological (25; 31%), chemical (27; 34%), and burns (15; 49%), and 48 (61%) of EDs had a decontamination area. Less than a quarter of hospitals had specific plans for the most vulnerable populations during disasters, such as seniors (12; 15%) and children (19; 24%).ConclusionsThe rate of hospitals with a disaster plan has increased since 2006, reaching a level of 92%. The Swiss health care system remains vulnerable to specific threats like NRBC. The lack of national legislation and funds aimed at fostering hospitals’ preparedness to disasters may be the root cause to explain the vulnerability of Swiss hospitals regarding disaster medicine. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:433-439)


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1309-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Khorram-Manesh ◽  
Patricia Plegas ◽  
Åsa Högstedt ◽  
Mahmoudreza Peyravi ◽  
Eric Carlström

Abstract Purpose There is a gap in time between the occurrence of a mass casualty incident (MCI) and the arrival of the first responders to the scene, which offers an opportunity for the public (immediate responders) to perform life-saving measures. The purpose of this study was to identify these measures and the public’s willingness to conduct them. Method An extensive literature review was performed to identify the possible measures that can be undertaken by the public. A group of experts were asked to prioritize and rank the feasibility of performing the measures by the public. Finally, the public was asked whether they were willing to do the chosen measures before and after an appropriate education. Results Twenty different measures were identified and presented in a questionnaire as statements, which were prioritized and ranked by the expert group into four categories: what (1) should be done, (2) is good to know how, (3) is not necessary to know, and (4) should not be done. All statements were converted into understandable statements and were sent to the public. There were some differences and some agreements between the experts and the public regarding what an immediate responder should do. However, the willingness of the public to perform most of the measures was high and increased after being offered an appropriate education. Conclusion The use of immediate responders is a life-saving approach in MCIs and in situations when every minute counts and every human resource is an invaluable asset. Multiple steps, such as education, empowerment, and access, should be taken into consideration to enable bystanders to effectively help struggling survivors.


2008 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 443-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Fischer ◽  
Karoush Kabir ◽  
Oliver Weber ◽  
Dieter C. Wirtz ◽  
Hermann Bail ◽  
...  

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