scholarly journals Disaster Preparedness and Professional Competence Among Healthcare Providers: Pilot Study Results

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Goniewicz ◽  
Mariusz Goniewicz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Study Results

The preparedness of a hospital for mass-casualty incident and disaster response includes activities, programs and systems developed and implemented before the event. These measures are designed to provide the necessary medical care to victims of disasters, and to minimize the negative impact of individual events on medical services. Up until now, there has been no systematic survey in Poland concerning the readiness of hospitals, as well as medical personnel, to deal with mass-casualty incidents. Consequently, little is known about the knowledge, skills, and professional competences of healthcare workers. The objective of this pilot study was to start an exploration and to collect data on the competences of healthcare workers, in addition to assessing the preparedness of hospitals for mass-casualty incidents. Utilizing an anonymous survey of a random sample, 134 healthcare providers were asked to respond to questions about the competencies they needed, and hospital preparedness during disaster response. It turned out that the test subjects evaluate their own preparedness for mass-casualty incidents and disasters better than the preparedness of their current place of work. The pilot study demonstrated that a properly designed questionnaire can be used to assess the relationship between hospital and staff preparedness and disaster response efficiency. Evaluation of the preparedness and effectiveness of disaster response is a means of finding and removing possible gaps and weaknesses in the functioning and effective management of a hospital during mass-casualty incidents.

Using Baseline Data to Address the Lack of Hospital Beds during Mass-Casualty Incidents

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hysham Hadef ◽  
Jean-Claude Bartier ◽  
Herve Delplancq ◽  
Jean-Pierre Dupeyron
Keyword(s):  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Baseline Data ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Data Systems ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
Access Information ◽  
Data Program ◽  
Information Database

AbstractThe management of victims during mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) is improving. In many countries, physicians and paramedics are well-trained to manage these incidents. A problem that has been encountered during MCIs is the lack of adequate numbers of hospital beds to accommodate the injured. In Europe, hospitals are crowded. One solution for the lack of beds is the creation of baseline data systems that could be consulted by medical personnel in all European countries. A MCI never has occurred in northeastern Europe, but such an event remains a possibility. This paper describes how the use of SAGEC 67, a free-access, information database concerning the availability of beds should help the participating countries, initially France, Germany, and Switzerland, respond to a MCI by dispatching each patient to an appropriate hospital and informing their families and physicians using their own language.Baseline data for more than 20 countries, and for hospitals, especially those in Germany, Switzerland, and France, were collected. Information about the number of beds and their availability hour-by-hour was included. In the case of MCIs, the baseline data program is opened and automatically connects to all of the countries. In case of a necessary hospital evacuation, the required beds immediately are occupied in one of these three countries.Questions and conversations among medical staff or family members can be accomplished between hospitals through computer, secured-line chatting that automatically translates into appropriate language.During the patient evacuation phase of a MCI, respondents acknowledged that a combination of local, state, and private resources and international cooperation eventually would be needed to meet the demand. Patient evacuation is optimized through the use of SAGEC 67, a free baseline database.

scholarly journals Fear of COVID-19, Risk Perception and Stress Level in Polish Nurses During COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Joanna Dymecka ◽  
◽  
Anna Machnik-Czerwik ◽  
Jakub Filipkowski ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Severe Stress ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results

Introduction. The outbreak of COVID-19 disease causes severe stress in health care workers, especially nurses. Nurses are at high risk of contracting the disease, as well as an increased risk of developing mental health symptoms such as fear, anxiety and work-related stress. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between fear of COVID-19, risk perception, perceived threat and stress in Polish nurses during COVID-19 outbreak. Material and Methods. 106 nurses participated in the study. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FOC-6), Risk of Contracting COVID-19 Scale and Perceived Threat of COVID-19 Scale were used in the study. Results. It has been shown that perceived stress, fear of COVID-19, perceived risk and threat are at high level. All the variables related to the perception of COVID-19 threat were significantly correlated with the perceived stress. The strongest relationship was between the risk of infection and perceived stress. Risk perception was statistically significant predictor of perceived stress. Conclusions. Polish nurses experience severe stress and perceive COVID-19 as a significant threat for their health and safety. In addition to protecting medical personnel from infection, nurses experiencing the highest levels of stress should be given psychological care and support, which could prevent the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health. (JNNN 2021;10(1):3–9)

Perceived barriers of non-US healthcare providers to responding during mass casualty incidents

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 345-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores J. Wright, PhD, RN
Keyword(s):  
Employment Status ◽  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Ability And Willingness

Nurses and other healthcare providers (HCPs) have a long history of providing care during extreme emergencies, disasters, or mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Surveys have been conducted in US metropolitan areas to determine the ability and willingness of HCP to respond to an MCIs. Various barriers were identified in those studies.The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of HCPs in other countries and cultures to barriers they may have in their ability or willingness to respond during an MCI. The study participants were 42 nurses completing their master’s degree, representing 26 different countries and territories, and they were assigned to one of eight focus groups based on the location of their country of origin.The findings revealed several themes, the first being that in some countries there were no perceived barriers to either ability or willingness to respond to an MCI. In other countries, the perceived barriers to ability were lack of transportation, staff shortages, equipment shortages, personal illness, and lack of infant care, whereas the perceived barriers to willingness were dimensions of fear and employment status. Cultural differences played a significant role in the ability and willingness of the HCPs to respond to an MCI.

scholarly journals Real-Time Monitoring Electronic Triage Tag System for Improving Survival Rate in Disaster-Induced Mass Casualty Incidents

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 877
Author(s):  
Ju Young Park
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
Rapid Prototyping Model

This study was conducted to contribute to active disaster response by developing internet of things (IoT)-based vital sign monitoring e-triage tag system to improve the survival rate at disaster mass casualty incidents fields. The model used in this study for developing the e-triage tag system is the rapid prototyping model (RAD). The process comprised six steps: analysis, design, development, evaluation, implementation, and simulation. As a result of detailed assessment of the system design and development by an expert group, areas with the highest score in the triage sensor evaluation were rated “very good”, with 5 points for continuous vital sign data delivery, portability, and robustness. In addition, ease of use, wearability, and electricity consumption were rated 4.8, 4.7, and 4.6 points, respectively. In the triage application evaluation, the speed and utility scored a perfect 5 points, and the reliability and expressiveness were rated 4.9 points and 4.8 points, respectively. This study will contribute significantly to increasing the survival rate via the development of a conceptual prehospital triage for field applications and e-triage tag system implementation.

scholarly journals Training Emergency Department Charge Nurses Through Tabletop Exercises

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s19-s19
Author(s):  
Beth Weeks
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Charge Nurses ◽  
Incident Command

Introduction:In a disaster or mass casualty incident, the Emergency Department (ED) charge nurse is thrust into an expanded leadership role, expected to not only manage the department but also organize a disaster response. Hospital emergency preparedness training programs typically focus on high-level leadership, while frontline decision-making staff get experience only through online training and infrequent full-scale exercises. Financial and time limitations of full-scale exercises have been identified as major barriers to frontline training.Aim:To discuss a cost-effective approach to training ED charge nurses and informal leaders in disaster response.Methods:A formal training program was implemented in the ED. All permanent and relief charge nurses are required to attend one four-hour Hospital ICS course within their first year in their position, as well as participate in a minimum of one two-hour ED-based tabletop exercise per year. The tabletop exercises are offered bimonthly, covering various mass casualty scenarios such as apartment complex fires, riots, and a tornado strike. Full-scale exercises involving the ED occur annually.Results:ED permanent and relief charge nurses expressed increased skills and knowledge in areas such as initiation of disaster processes, implementation of hospital incident command, and familiarization with protocols and available resources. Furthermore, ED charge nurses have demonstrated strong leadership, decision-making, and improved response to actual mass casualty incidents since implementing ICS training and tabletop exercises.Discussion:Limitations of relying on full-scale disaster exercises to provide experience to frontline leaders can be overcome by the inclusion of ICS training and tabletop exercises for ED charge nurses in a hospital training and exercise plan. Implementing a structured training program for ED charge nurses focusing on leadership in mass casualty incidents is one step to building a more resilient and prepared ED, hospital, and community.

Developing a Hospital Disaster Preparedness Plan for Mass Casualty Incidents: Lessons Learned From the Downtown Beirut Bombing

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen El Sayed ◽  
Ali F. Chami ◽  
Eveline Hitti
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Preparedness Plan ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Response System ◽  
General Response

AbstractMass casualty incidents (MCIs) are becoming more frequent worldwide, especially in the Middle East where violence in Syria has spilled over to many neighboring countries. Lebanon lacks a coordinated prehospital response system to deal with MCIs; therefore, hospital preparedness plans are essential to deal with the surge of casualties. This report describes our experience in dealing with an MCI involving a car bomb in an urban area of downtown Beirut, Lebanon. It uses general response principles to propose a simplified response model for hospitals to use during MCIs. A summary of the debriefings following the event was developed and an analysis was performed with the aim of modifying our hospital’s existing disaster preparedness plan. Casualties’ arrival to our emergency department (ED), the performance of our hospital staff during the event, communication, and the coordination of resources, in addition to the response of the different departments, were examined. In dealing with MCIs, hospital plans should focus on triage area, patient registration and tracking, communication, resource coordination, essential staff functions, as well as on security issues and crowd control. Hospitals in other countries that lack a coordinated prehospital disaster response system can use the principles described here to improve their hospital’s resilience and response to MCIs. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 379–385)

scholarly journals Mass Casualty Incidents and Disaster Participation in Real versus Simulated Events in Romania

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Stănescu ◽  
Cristian Boeriu ◽  
Sanda-Maria Copotoiu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Proper Method ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Common ◽  
Communication Evaluation ◽  
Year 2013

Abstract Background: The current study outlines some of the main particularities of both real and simulated mass casualty incidents (MCI) and disasters in Romania as reported by medical and paramedical participating personnel. Methods: A non-profit organization in Romania trained 1250 doctors, nurses and paramedics for proper MCI interventions through a dedicated programme for the last part of the year 2013. Half a year later, an email with a unique link to an online questionnaire was sent to each participant to assess their opinion over the participation in real or already simulated MCI or disasters. The questionnaire consisted of 25 specific topics, out of which only a fraction were considered for the current study. Results: Out of all participants, 145 doctors, 184 nurses and 115 paramedics provided valid answers, totaling 444 responders. Most participants were satisfied with the information about the location and type of the incident they would respond to. The amplitude of a given event is generally well anticipated under simulation conditions as compared to real events, where the amplitude tends to be higher rather than lower than expected (p=0.0082). About three quarters of participants under real or simulated events repeated or demanded repeating the information trafficked through mobile radios, almost a quarter misinterpreted the information, and almost a half reported delayed operations due to miscommunication. Conclusions: Simulations are a proper method of communication evaluation for mass casualty incidents and disasters, which can also stress the common communication issues encountered during a real MCI unfolding.

Children’s Health Care in Mass-Casualty Incidents: A Systematic Literature Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Victor S.L.P. Costa ◽  
Giovanna M. Stéfani ◽  
Helio A. Ferenhof ◽  
Fabiana S. Lima ◽  
Maíra Cola
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
Children’S Health Care

Abstract Objectives: Considering the pediatric peculiarities and the difficulty of assisting this population in mass-casualty situations, this study aims to identify the main topics regarding children’s health care in mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) that are discussed in the Emergency Medicine area. Methods: This systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and registered with the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews with the number CRD42021229552. The last update of the search in the databases was on May 27, 2021 and resulted in 45 documents to be analyzed. The inclusion criteria included the peer-reviewed academic papers in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian languages; the databases used were PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE/Bireme (Virtual Library of Health - VLH), and Web of Science, which execute the query on the topic, keywords, or abstracts. Also, to be included, documents that were available with full-text access through CAPES, Google, or Google Scholar. Books, non-academic research, and content in languages other than the presented ones were represented as exclusion criteria. Results: From the resulting papers, 21 articles served as the basis for this analysis. Revealed were the year of publication, the first author’s institution nationality, topic, and disaster management phase for each study, which allow other researchers to understand the main topics regarding children’s health care in MCIs. Conclusions: The topics regarding child’s health care in MCIs found in the primary studies of this review, in order of frequency, were: Disaster Response (including the following sub-topics: simulation, education, quality of care, use of technological tools, and damage analysis); Triage; and Disaster Planning. The Emergency Medicine operation was focused on harm reduction after the occurrence of an MCI. Further studies focusing on the pre-disaster and post-disaster phases are needed.

scholarly journals ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISEASE COVID-19 AS OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
A. V. Basanets ◽  
O. V. Yermakova ◽  
L. B. Kriukova ◽  
V. A. Gvozdetsky ◽  
N. V. Zhurahovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Occupational Disease ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Acute Respiratory Disease ◽  
Occupational Infection ◽  
Disease Case

Introduction. Acute respiratory disease COVID-19 is a new condition, which has been included into the list of occupational diseases by the decree of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukrane �About correction of the list of occupational diseases� # 394 on 13 May 2020. Medical staff is a professional group of high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the same time, the cases of COVID-19 in medical personnel are quite rarely acknowledged as an occupational disease. Aim � to evaluate the reasons of low COVID-19 occupational morbidity in Ukraine. Materials and methods. Statistics data regarding COVID-19 cases in medical personnel, approved as occupational disease as of 23 Mar 2021 in Ukraine were analyzed. Results and discussion. As of 23 Mar 2021 COVID-19 has been diagnosed in 71174 healthcare workers. The investigation confirmed an occupational disease in 4758 workers (6,7 % of all cases or 26 % of investigation completed cases), including 256 (0,3 %) lethal cases. Thus, in majority of cases an occupational character of the disease was not confirmed. The following reasons of such a situation have been identified: 1.The administration of healthcare institutions deliberately hides such the cases; emergency notification about the occurrence of acute occupational disease is often not forwarded to responsible authority. 2. Healthcare providers insufficiently employ occupational diseases specialists, due to lack of funding for occupational diseases service on the second level of healthcare system. 3. Epidemiological investigation of acute disease case is not thorough. It is difficult later to identify the site and source of infection, making it impossible to establish a connection of a disease with work conditions. 4. Ukraine State Epidemiological Service has been liquidated, whereas epidemiological investigations belonged to the competency of this organization. 5. Training of epidemiologists and occupational health specialists has been stopped in Ukraine, complicating timely investigation of COVID-19 occupational infection at the time of pandemic. As an example, there has been presented the case of occupational COVID-19 in current article. Key words: coronavirus disease 2019: healthcare workers, occupational diseases

scholarly journals The importance of pre-training gap analyses and the identification of competencies and skill requirements of medical personnel for mass casualty incidents and disaster training

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Goniewicz ◽  
Mariusz Goniewicz ◽  
Anna Włoszczak-Szubzda ◽  
Frederick M. Burkle ◽  
Attila J. Hertelendy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
General Training ◽  
Disaster Training ◽  
Periodic Evaluation

Abstract Background Effective preparedness to respond to mass casualty incidents and disasters requires a well-planned and integrated effort by all involved professionals, particularly those who are working in healthcare, who are equipped with unique knowledge and skills for emergencies. This study aims to investigate and evaluate the level of knowledge and skills related to mass casualty and disaster management in a cohort of healthcare professionals. Methods A cross-sectional brief study was conducted using a validated and anonymous questionnaire, with a sample of 134 employees at a clinical hospital in Lublin, Poland. Results The findings of this study may indicate a need for standardization of training for hospitals employees. It also suggests a knowledge gap between different professional groups, which calls for adjusting such general training, to at least, the weakest group, while special tasks and mission can be given to other groups within the training occasion. Conclusion Pre-Training gap analyses and identification of participants’ competencies and skills should be conducted prior to training in mass casualty incidents and disasters. Such analyses provides an opportunity to develop training curriculum at various skill and knowledge levels from basic to advance. All training in mass casualty incidents and disasters should be subject to ongoing, not just periodic, evaluation, in order to assess continued competency.

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