Boston's quick and appropriate response to the April 15 bombing at the marathon exemplifies the value of emergency preparedness, according to a perspective piece in the New England Journal of Medicine.
RAND Corp. researcher Arthur L. Kellermann, MD, MPH, and Kobi Peleg, PhD, MPH, of the National Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine Research at Tel Aviv University in Israel, point to Boston's disaster plan as a major factor in Boston healthcare providers' ability to successfully treat the bombing victims. Understanding the role of a strong disaster plan and training in Boston's response to the bombing is essential for healthcare providers to prepare for a disaster in their own community, according to the commentary.
The authors wrote all U.S. cities need to include disaster planning as an integral part of provider training instead of as "an afterthought."
"Some citizens and healthcare professionals may erroneously conclude that it doesn't matter if emergency departments are crowded and if disaster plans and rigorous drills are lacking, because their hospital's medical staff will simply 'rise to the occasion.' That's a risky bet," the authors wrote.
Fertilizer Plant Explosion Tries Texas Hospitals' Crisis Planning
Do Hospitals Fall Short on Hazard Preparedness?
RAND Corp. researcher Arthur L. Kellermann, MD, MPH, and Kobi Peleg, PhD, MPH, of the National Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine Research at Tel Aviv University in Israel, point to Boston's disaster plan as a major factor in Boston healthcare providers' ability to successfully treat the bombing victims. Understanding the role of a strong disaster plan and training in Boston's response to the bombing is essential for healthcare providers to prepare for a disaster in their own community, according to the commentary.
The authors wrote all U.S. cities need to include disaster planning as an integral part of provider training instead of as "an afterthought."
"Some citizens and healthcare professionals may erroneously conclude that it doesn't matter if emergency departments are crowded and if disaster plans and rigorous drills are lacking, because their hospital's medical staff will simply 'rise to the occasion.' That's a risky bet," the authors wrote.
More Articles on Emergency Preparedness:
Bombing Event Response Resources Available for Health ProfessionalsFertilizer Plant Explosion Tries Texas Hospitals' Crisis Planning
Do Hospitals Fall Short on Hazard Preparedness?