Born Christopher, Mamczak Christiaan, Pagenkopf Eric, McAndrew Mark, Richardson Mark, Teague David, Wolinsky Philip, Monchik Keith
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Orthopaedic Trauma Association Committee on Disaster Management Preparedness, 2 Dudley Street, MOC 200, Providence, RI 02905.
Foundry Orthopaedics, 285 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908.
JBJS Rev. 2016 Jan 5;4(1). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.O.00026.
Complacency and lack of preparation are major barriers to an effective disaster response. Leadership assignments and departmental organization for a response should be outlined in advance. Response rehearsal and after-action reviews allow for thoughtful change to a response plan. Hospital disaster alert notification systems should be standardized and should be understood. Communication systems used in a disaster should have redundancy. A department’s response plan must be integrated into the overall hospital plan. Large casualty volumes require appropriate triage and resource allocation. Response provider emotional and health support is an important consideration.