The Institute of Medicine has released a report to guide healthcare organizations in responding to catastrophic disasters.
The report, "Crisis Standards of Care: A Systems Framework for Catastrophic Disaster Response," includes a resource manual for healthcare organizations and government agencies to deliver care effectively to the greatest number of people in a disaster. IOM recommends a systems-based approach to resource allocation and suggests organizations integrate crisis standards of care into their surge capability planning and training exercises.
The report outlines the core functions (pdf) of hospital facilities in implementing CSC plans:
1. Alerting. Receive and manage alerts from emergency medical services, public safety, hospital partners, the state department of public health and the National Weather Service.
2. Notification. Alert staff within and outside the facility.
3. Command. Use an incident command system and community-compliant system, including training key staff.
4. Control. Ensure the command staff understands interfaces for resource requests and allocation.
5. Communication. Employ policies and procedures for sharing information with staff and other facilities.
6. Coordination. Understand the interface between the facility and local public health, emergency management and local/regional hospital coalitions.
7. Public information. Participate in a joint information system with other facilities.
8. Operations. Ensure the staff understands their responsibilities in maximizing availability of resources.
9. Logistics. Stockpile potential scarce resources.
10. Planning. Ensure clinicians and staff understand their interface with incident command, including the planning section chief, in developing strategies.
11. Administration. Examine the organization's disaster delegation of authority to confirm that crisis care decisions are supported.
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The report, "Crisis Standards of Care: A Systems Framework for Catastrophic Disaster Response," includes a resource manual for healthcare organizations and government agencies to deliver care effectively to the greatest number of people in a disaster. IOM recommends a systems-based approach to resource allocation and suggests organizations integrate crisis standards of care into their surge capability planning and training exercises.
The report outlines the core functions (pdf) of hospital facilities in implementing CSC plans:
1. Alerting. Receive and manage alerts from emergency medical services, public safety, hospital partners, the state department of public health and the National Weather Service.
2. Notification. Alert staff within and outside the facility.
3. Command. Use an incident command system and community-compliant system, including training key staff.
4. Control. Ensure the command staff understands interfaces for resource requests and allocation.
5. Communication. Employ policies and procedures for sharing information with staff and other facilities.
6. Coordination. Understand the interface between the facility and local public health, emergency management and local/regional hospital coalitions.
7. Public information. Participate in a joint information system with other facilities.
8. Operations. Ensure the staff understands their responsibilities in maximizing availability of resources.
9. Logistics. Stockpile potential scarce resources.
10. Planning. Ensure clinicians and staff understand their interface with incident command, including the planning section chief, in developing strategies.
11. Administration. Examine the organization's disaster delegation of authority to confirm that crisis care decisions are supported.
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