Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T05:18:32.087Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Pilot Assessment of Hospital Preparedness for Bioterrorism Events

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Craig D. Thorne ,
Howard Levitin ,
Marc Oliver ,
Sue Losch-Skidmore ,
Beth A. Neiley ,
Myra M. Socher  and
Patricia W. Gucer
Craig D. Thorne*
Affiliation:
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Occupational Health Program, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Howard Levitin
Affiliation:
DQE, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Marc Oliver
Affiliation:
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Occupational Health Program, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Sue Losch-Skidmore
Affiliation:
DQE, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Beth A. Neiley
Affiliation:
Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Virginia, USA
Myra M. Socher
Affiliation:
TriMed, Arlington, Virginia, USA George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
Patricia W. Gucer
Affiliation:
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Occupational Health Program, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
*
Craig D. Thorne, MD, MPH University of Maryland School of Medicine, Occupational Health Program, 405 West Redwood Street, 2nd floor Baltimore, Maryland 21201 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Lessons on question content and refinement of a 2003 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-Health Resources Services Administration (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-Health Resources Services) pilot hospital preparedness assessment tool designed to capture activities in more detail than previous studies are reported in this study.

Methods:

Responses from fixed-choice questions, including organizational and geographical differences, were analyzed using the chi-square test. Openended questions were evaluated qualitatively.

Results:

Of the respondents, 91% had developed plans and 97% designated a bio-event coordinator, but only 47% had allocated funds. Urban hospitals were more likely to participate in regional infectious disease monitoring. Hospitals that participated in a network were more likely to fund preparedness, share bio-event coordinators and medical directors, and provide advanced training.

Conclusions:

Several issues deserve further study: (1) hospital networks may provide the structure to promote preparedness; (2) specific procedures (e.g., expanding outpatient treatment capacity) have not been tested; and (3) special attention should be directed towards integrating non-urban hospitals into regional surveillance systems to ensure early identification of infectious disease outbreaks.

Keywords

assessmentbioterrorismhospitalruralpreparednessurban
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 414 - 422
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Treat, N, Williams, JM, Furbee, PM et al: Hospital preparedness for weapons of mass destruction incidents: An initial assessment. Ann Emerg Med 2001;38(5):562–565.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Davis, LM, Blanchard, JC: RAND Report: Are Local Health Responders Ready for Biological and Chemical Terrorism? IP–221–OSD, RAND. 2002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Wetter, DC, Danielli, WE, Tresser, CD: Hospital preparedness for victims of chemical or biological terrorism. Am J Public Health 2001;91:710–716.Google ScholarPubMed
4.Government Accounting Office: Hospital Preparedness: Most Urban Hospitals Have Emergency Plans but Lack Certain Capacities for Bioterrorism Response. GAO–03–924. August 2003.Google Scholar
5.Gursky, EA: ANSER Institute for Homeland Security: Hometown Hospitals: The Weakest Link? Bioterrorism Readiness in America's Rural Hospitals. June 2004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.US Department of Health and Human Resources, Health Resource Services Administration (Health Resources Services): National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program FY 2004 Continuation Guidance. Available at http://www.hrsa.gov/bioterrorism/. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar
7.Booz Allen, Hamilton: Regionalization: Health System Preparedness for Bioterrorism for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. August 2004.Google Scholar
8. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mass Casualty Disaster Plan Checklist: A Template for Healthcare Facilities. 2001. Available at http://www.gnyha.org/eprc/general/templates/APIC_MassCasualtyChecklist.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar
9.Joint Commission on Accrediation of Healthcare Organizations: Guide to Emergency Management Planning in Healthcare. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission Resources. 2002.Google Scholar
10.American Hospital Association: Hospital Preparedness for Mass Casualties: Final Report. 2000. Available at http://www.premieinc.com/safety.topics/disaster_readiness/downloads/10-aha-disasterpreparedness0200.doc. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar
11. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Understanding Needs for Health System Preparedness and Capacity for Bioterrorist Attacks. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/about/cpcr/bioterrorism.htm. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar
12.American Hospital Association (AHA). Available at http://www.aha.com/ freesearch.php3. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar
13.United States Census Bureau: Population Estimates. Available at http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php. Accessed 10 July 2005.Google Scholar