Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

What Physicians Need to Know When Catastrophe Strikes

Authors: Neil J. Nusbaum, JD, MD

Abstract

In a catastrophic situation, physicians and other healthcare workers may be called upon to deal with unaccustomed situations. Disaster planning can guide some of the response, but considerable physician flexibility is likely to be needed to cope with unanticipated medical needs, and with the stress on not only the broader community but also on the health workers themselves.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Nusbaum NJ. The katrina public health debacle: Lessons learned and lessons ignored. South Med J2006;99:911–912.
 
2. Briggs SM. Disaster management teams. Curr Opin Crit Care 2005;11:585–589.
 
3. Rivara FP, Nathens AB, Jurkovich GJ, et al. Do trauma centers have the capacity to respond to disasters? J Trauma 2006;61:949–953.
 
4. DeLia D. Annual bed statistics give a misleading picture of hospital surge capacity. Ann Emerg Med |  | 2006;48:384–388.
 
5. Burkle FM. Population-based triage management in response to surge-capacity requirements during a large-scale bioevent disaster. Acad Emerg Med 2006;13:1118–1129.
 
6. Kellermann AL. Crisis in the emergency department. N Engl J Med 2006;355:1300–1303.
 
7. Manley WG, Furbee PM, Coben JH, et al. Realities of disaster preparedness in rural hospitals.Disaster Manag Response 2006;4:80–87.
 
8. Campos-Outcalt D. Disaster medical response: Maximizing your effectiveness. J Fam Pract2006;55:113–115.
 
9. Prezant DJ, Clair J, Belyaev S, et al. Effects of the august 2003 blackout on the New York City healthcare delivery system: A lesson for disaster preparedness. Crit Care Med 2005;33:S96–101.
 
10. Silverman M, Stock F, Kutcher J, et al. Blueprint for survival – hurricane preparedness for long-term care facilities. J Am Geriatr Soc 2006;54 (Suppl):S96.
 
11. Bernick JJ, Pitcock J, Mike L. Where can they go? Hurricane evacuation of the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc 2006;54(Suppl):S73.
 
12. Gavagan TF, Smart KM.R.C.G.P et al. Hurricane katrina: Medical response at the houston Astrodome/Reliant center complex. South Med J 2006;99:933–939.
 
13. Redlener I, Markenson D. Disaster and terrorism preparedness: What pediatricians need to know.Dis Mon 2004;50:6–40.
 
14. Phillips Z. Emergency preparedness exercises remain an imperfect science.GovExec.com. Available at: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35549&dcn=todaysnews. Accessed November 22, 2006.
 
15. Farmer JC, Carlton PK Jr. Providing critical care during a disaster: The interface between disaster response agencies and hospitals. Crit Care Med 2006;34:S56–S59.
 
16. King DR, Patel MB, Feinstein AJ, et al. Simulation training for a mass casualty incident: Two-year experience at the army trauma training center. J Trauma 2006;61:943–948.
 
17. Buttross S. Responding creatively to family needs of hospital staff: Caring for children of caretakers during a disaster. Pediatrics 2006;117:S446–S447.
 
18. Madrid PA, Schacher SJ. A critical concern: Pediatrician self-care after disasters. Pediatrics2006;117:S454–S457.