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Hospital Planning For Terrorist Disasters: A Community-Wide Program Product Image

Hospital Planning For Terrorist Disasters: A Community-Wide Program

  • Published: December 2009
  • Region: North America
  • EB Medicine

Terrorist attacks may be less likely to occur than other types of disasters, but they can have far greater impacts on hospital operations. Historically, hospital emergency preparedness programs have not included provisions for terrorism events. September 11, 2001 was the catalyst that convinced many emergency management officials of the need for such plans.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began focusing intensely on emergency operations systems for public health facilities after the anthrax bioterrorism attacks in late September 2001. Despite the limited number of direct victims (22 people) in that attack, the public health effects were widespread, with large numbers of people receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. Psychological effects were also felt across the nation.1,2 The fact that anthrax had been dispersed as a biological weapon through the US mail system also heightened the need for preparedness.

In order to develop a robust and effective emergency preparedness plan, hospital leaders should build on previous experiences with disaster management, especially with respect to human behavior, as well as on published research. This article is intended READ MORE >

- Introduction
- The Four Phases of Comprehensive Emergency Management: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery
- Incident Command System
- Emergency Operations Center
- Disaster Triage
- Cadaver Identification and Disposal
- Victims
- Hospitals
- Staff
- Security
- Facility Evacuation and Alternate Care Sites
- Community-Wide Planning
- Disease Control
- Communications
- Media
- Credentialing Health Care Staff
- Non-Medical Volunteers and Donations
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Decontamination
- Surge Capacity
- Conclusions
- References

Joseph Sabato, MD - 02/17/2010

This special report presents an excellent foundation, based on accepted key principles and the experience of prior events, for hospital planning for terrorism that can be readily adapted to a number of threats. The principles of incident command and the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) are introduced, and the need for multi-agency coordination in terrorist events is emphasized. Education and ongoing training are emphasized as key areas for successfully implementing plans. Security, the development of alternative care site strategies, psychological support services, surveillance, media, volunteers, personal protective equipment, decontamination, communications and surge capacity are discussed as important components of the plan and response.

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