Radiological Emergency Preparedness: A Survey of Nuclear Medicine Technologists in the United States

Existing research on individual preparedness in the United States indicates that we are generally unprepared for disasters. While there is an abundance of research on emergency preparedness, there are gaps in our knowledge. For example, the results of extant research are unclear regarding what factors influence individual preparedness. The preparedness literature is also limited in the types of disasters examined and in understanding the timing of preparedness activities. The current COVID-19 global pandemic provides a tragic but albeit unique opportunity to address these limitations of previous research and examine emergency preparedness activities before and immediately following the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. This research is further distinctive because it examines preparedness activities related to the global pandemic rather than other types of disasters. Policy and research implications of the findings are presented.

Download Full-text

Emergency Preparedness in the Legal Librarian Community in the United States: Current Culture and the Need to Expand Collaboration

Legal Reference Services Quarterly ◽

10.1080/0270319x.2018.1574164 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 37 (3-4) ◽

pp. 204-235

Author(s):

Danielle E. Lewis

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

The United States

Download Full-text

Utilization of Health Care Coalitions and Resiliency Forums in the United States and United Kingdom: Different Approaches to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2015.154 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 161-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Walsh ◽

Allan Graeme Swan

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Health Care ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Emergency Management ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Management Strategies ◽

The United States ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Care Systems

ABSTRACTThe process for developing national emergency management strategies for both the United States and the United Kingdom has led to the formulation of differing approaches to meet similar desired outcomes. Historically, the pathways for each are the result of the enactment of legislation in response to a significant event or a series of events. The resulting laws attempt to revise practices and policies leading to more effective and efficient management in preparing, responding, and mitigating all types of natural, manmade, and technological hazards. Following the turn of the 21st century, each country has experienced significant advancements in emergency management including the formation and utilization of 2 distinct models: health care coalitions in the United States and resiliency forums in the United Kingdom. Both models have evolved from circumstances and governance unique to each country. Further in-depth study of both approaches will identify strengths, weaknesses, and existing gaps to meet continued and future challenges of our respective disaster health care systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:161–164)

Download Full-text

Use of Radiopharmaceuticals in Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine in the United States

Health Physics ◽

10.1097/hp.0000000000000261 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 108 (5) ◽

pp. 520-537 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Vladimir Drozdovitch ◽

Aaron B. Brill ◽

Ronald J. Callahan ◽

Jeffrey A. Clanton ◽

Allegra DePietro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Nuclear Medicine ◽

The United States ◽

Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

Download Full-text

Nuclear Medicine Exposure in the United States, 2005-2007: Preliminary Results

Seminars in Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2008.05.004 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 384-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Fred A. Mettler ◽

Mythreyi Bhargavan ◽

Bruce R. Thomadsen ◽

Debbie B. Gilley ◽

Jill A. Lipoti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Nuclear Medicine ◽

The United States ◽

Preliminary Results

Download Full-text

Challenge of Hospital Emergency Preparedness: Analysis and Recommendations

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1097/dmp.0b013e31819f754c ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 3 (S1) ◽

pp. S74-S82 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Joseph A. Barbera ◽

Dale J. Yeatts ◽

Anthony G. Macintyre

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Health Care ◽

Natural Disasters ◽

Emergency Response ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Large Scale ◽

The United States ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Medical Emergency

ABSTRACTIn the United States, recent large-scale emergencies and disasters display some element of organized medical emergency response, and hospitals have played prominent roles in many of these incidents. These and other well-publicized incidents have captured the attention of government authorities, regulators, and the public. Health care has assumed a more prominent role as an integral component of any community emergency response. This has resulted in increased funding for hospital preparedness, along with a plethora of new preparedness guidance.Methods to objectively measure the results of these initiatives are only now being developed. It is clear that hospital readiness remains uneven across the United States. Without significant disaster experience, many hospitals remain unprepared for natural disasters. They may be even less ready to accept and care for patient surge from chemical or biological attacks, conventional or nuclear explosive detonations, unusual natural disasters, or novel infectious disease outbreaks.This article explores potential reasons for inconsistent emergency preparedness across the hospital industry. It identifies and discusses potential motivational factors that encourage effective emergency management and the obstacles that may impede it. Strategies are proposed to promote consistent, reproducible, and objectively measured preparedness across the US health care industry. The article also identifies issues requiring research. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(Suppl 1):S74–S82)

Download Full-text

Predictors of Emergency Preparedness Among Older Adults in the United States

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2020.80 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sue Anne Bell ◽

Dianne Singer ◽

Erica Solway ◽

Mattias Kirch ◽

Jeffrey Kullgren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

The United States ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Power Outage ◽

Evacuation Plans ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Hispanic White

ABSTRACT Objectives: Emergency preparedness becomes more important with increased age, as older adults are at heightened risk for harm from disasters. In this study, predictors of preparedness actions and confidence in preparedness among older adults in the United States were assessed. Methods: This nationally representative survey polled community-dwelling older adults ages 50-80 y (n = 2256) about emergency preparedness and confidence in addressing different types of emergencies. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of reported emergency preparedness actions and confidence in addressing emergencies. Results: Participants’ mean age was 62.4 y (SD = 8); 52% were female, and 71% were non-Hispanic white. Living alone was associated with lower odds of having a 7-d supply of food and water (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.96), a stocked emergency kit (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.47-0.86), and having had conversations with family or friends about evacuation plans (aOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.44-0.78). Use of equipment requiring electricity was associated with less confidence in addressing a power outage lasting more than 24 h (aOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47-0.94), as was use of mobility aids (OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45-0.93). Conclusions: These results point to the need for tailored interventions to support emergency preparedness for older adults, particularly among those who live alone and use medical equipment requiring electricity.

Download Full-text

Worldwide research productivity in nuclear medicine literature

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.3413/nukmed-0995-18-08 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 57 (06) ◽

pp. 234-241

Author(s):

Jixiao Lei ◽

Peng Yu ◽

Baixuan Xu ◽

Ruimin Wang ◽

Zhihui Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Nuclear Medicine ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Population Size ◽

Research Productivity ◽

The United States ◽

Research Activity ◽

Medicine Research ◽

Increasing Trend

Summary Aim: This study aimed to assess the quantity and quality of papers published in subspecialty nuclear medicine journals and provide an overview of worldwide research activity carried out in the field of nuclear medicine. Methods: Papers published in subspecialty nuclear medicine journals between 2008 and 2017 were retrieved from the Web of Science. The number of papers and citations were used to evaluate the quantity and quality of the articles. The correlation between the research productivity of different countries and their population size and gross domestic product (GDP) were analyzed. Results: There were 12,861 articles published in these journals between 2008 and 2017. A rapidly increasing trend was observed in the number of articles published per year (p < 0.001). The United States published the largest proportion of papers (23.22 %) followed by Germany (9.94 %), Japan (9.46 %), Italy (6.53 %), and China (6.36 %). The United States had the highest number of total citations. The number of articles from different countries had a significant correlation with their population size and GDP (p < 0.01). Switzerland had the highest mean citations (23.66) followed by the Netherlands (23.54), and Germany (22.77). However, the Netherlands was first (42.43) followed by Denmark (32.89) and Switzerland (31.79) when adjustments for population size were made. When adjustments for GDP were made, the Netherlands was again the leader (82.91) followed by Denmark (69.49) and Greece (61.77). Conclusions: There has been a significant increase in nuclear medicine research over the last decade. The United States is the leader of worldwide research productivity. However, when population and GDP are taken into consideration, certain smaller countries in Europe exhibit performed better.

Download Full-text

Public Policy Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Blood Supply in the United States

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2021.306157 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e1-e7

Author(s):

William Riley ◽

Kailey Love ◽

Jeffrey McCullough

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Blood Supply ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

The United States ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Public ◽

Preparedness Planning ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated an acute blood shortage for medical transfusions, exacerbating an already tenuous blood supply system in the United States, contributing to the public health crisis, and raising deeper questions regarding emergency preparedness planning for ensuring blood availability. However, these issues around blood availability during the pandemic are related primarily to the decline in supply caused by reduced donations during the pandemic rather than increased demand for transfusion of patients with COVID-19. The challenges to ensure a safe blood supply during the pandemic will continue until a vaccine is developed, effective treatments are available, or the virus goes away. If this virus or a similar virus were capable of transmission through blood, it would have a catastrophic impact on the health care system, causing a future public health emergency that would jeopardize the national blood supply. In this article, we identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood supply adequacy, discuss the public health implications, propose recovery strategies, and present recommendations for preparing for the next disruption in blood supply driven by a public health emergency. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 18, 2021: e1–e7. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306157 )

Download Full-text