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Theme 4. Effective Models for Medical and Health Response Coordination: Summary and Action Plan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Eric K. Noji
Affiliation:
World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine and the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine
SWA Gunn
Affiliation:
[U.S.] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
A. Abdul Aziz
Affiliation:
Emergency Physician, National University Hospital of Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR
Huan-Teng Chi
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, ROC
Wayne Dauphinee
Affiliation:
Emergency Management Analyst, Provincial Emergency Program, Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA
Deborah Davenport
Affiliation:
Area Officer, Public Health, Lancaster, California, USA
Roberto Gonzales
Affiliation:
Regional Director, Emergency Preparedness Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA
Hilary Jaeger
Affiliation:
Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations at the Canadian Forces Medical Group Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
G.V. Kipor
Affiliation:
All-Russian Centre for Disaster Medicine “Zaschita”, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, RUSSIA
Carlos A. Mares
Affiliation:
Surgeon Resident, Lima, PERU
R. P. Shrestha
Affiliation:
Director, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, NEPAL
Kazumasa Yoshinaga
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, JAPAN

Abstract

Introduction:

To effectively respond to this relatively new, complex mandate it is essential to find effective models of coordination to ensure that medical and health services can meet the standards now expected in a disaster situation. This theme explored various models, noting both the strengths that can be built on and the weaknesses that still need to be overcome.

Methods:

Details of the methods used are provided in the preceding paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. Since the findings from the Theme 1 and Theme 4 groups were similar, the chairs of both groups presided over one workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates.

Results:

The main points developed during the presentations and discussion included: (1) preplanning (predisaster goals), (2) information collection (assessment), (3) communication (materials and methods); and (4) response centres and personnel. There exists a need for institutionalization of processes for learning from experiences obtained from disasters.

Discussion:

Action plans presented include: (1) creation of an information and data clearinghouse on disaster management, (2) identification of incentives and disincentives for readiness and develop strategies and interventions, and (3) action on lessons learned from evidence-based research and practical experience.

Conclusions:

There is an urgent need to proactively establish coordination and management procedures in advance of any crisis. A number of important insights for improvement in coordination and management during disasters emerged.

Type
5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2001

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References

5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine (5APCDM): Theme 1. Disaster coordination and management, Prehosp Disast Med 2000;15(3): s30–37 (http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu).Google Scholar
5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine (5APCDM): Theme 4. Effective models for medical and health response coordination, Prehosp Disast Med 2000;15(3):s52–s59 (http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu).Google Scholar
1.DeGrace, M., Ericson, D., Folz, H., Greene, W., Ho, K., Pearce, L: Proceedings for the 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine: Summaries and action plans. Prehosp Disast Med 2001;16(1):1821.Google Scholar