1st Edition
Medical Disaster Response A Survival Guide for Hospitals in Mass Casualty Events
While the job of a clinician in a disaster scenario is to save lives without regard for the cause or rationale for the injury, medical and emergency professionals who understand the diverse aspects of a disaster are better equipped to respond effectively. Giving emergency personnel the tools they need to perform in catastrophic situations, Medical Disaster Response: A Survival Guide for Hospitals in Mass Casualty Events addresses the critical planning and response issues surrounding a mass casualty disaster before, during, and after the event.
The book presents the fundamental components of a comprehensive medical disaster management plan that provides readers with a framework for developing individual policies to suit their particular institution. It examines natural, man-made, and terrorist disasters, and offers insight into the different strategies required for distinct scenarios, as well as the need to be prepared for the cascade effect of secondary events resulting from the original disaster.
Real case studies examining medical disaster response
This volume provides a powerful and unique case example through a chronology of the events of September 11th, offering a firsthand account and insight into the quintessential test case for disaster response effectiveness. It also profiles other notorious events—including Hurricane Katrina, the Madrid bombings, the SARS outbreak in 2004, and the sarin gas attack in Tokyo in 2005—as seen through the eyes of the expert contributors who witnessed and responded to these tragedies.
The book presents the lessons learned from these events by the contributing authors who acted on the front lines of the medical disaster response. It is a valuable reference manual for emergency planning, response, and healthcare professionals to confront future disasters and help prevent and mitigate destruction and unnecessary casualties.
Background and Philosophy
Introduction, D. Goldschmitt
Worst Case Scenario, D. Goldschmitt
Thinking Outside the Box, D. Goldschmitt
Emergency Professionals, D. Goldschmitt
Cascade Effect, D. Goldschmitt
Profile of Terrorism, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Identification, D. Goldschmitt
Types of Disasters, D. Goldschmitt
Progression of Disaster Care, D. Goldschmitt
Firsthand Accounts
New York City: A History of Terrorism in Lower Manhattan, R. Bonvino
New York City, 9/11 Event: The Little Hospital That Could, J. Privitera
New York City, 9/11 Aftermath: The Forgotten Hospital at Ground Zero, D. Goldschmitt
Jerusalem: One of Our Own, J. Halevy
Toronto: The Courage to Care, G. A. Jakubowski
New Orleans: The Storm Was Called Katrina, R. Deichmann
Tokyo: Terror in the Subway, K. Taneda
Madrid: A Coordinated Plan of Terror, F. J. Ortiz-Alonso and F. Turegano-Fuentes
Disaster Management—Parameters
Incident Command: Philosophy, P. Fromm
Incident Command: Structure, P. Fromm
Hazard Vulnerability Analysis, D. Goldschmitt
Target Risk Score, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Capacity Framework, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Capacity: Biologic and Radiologic, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Capacity: Concussive and Chemical, D. Goldschmitt
Syndromic Surveillance, D. Goldschmitt
Affiliation Agreements, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Management—Clinical Issues
Patient Flow, D. Goldschmitt
Discharge Unit, D. Goldschmitt
Physical Plant, D. Goldschmitt
Staffing Parameters, D. Goldschmitt
Documentation, S. Guterman
Victim Lists, W. Coleman
EMS and PPE, D. Goldschmitt
Disaster Management—Non-Clinical Issues
Crowd Control, A. R. Matchett
Security and Surveillance, A. R. Matchett
Government Support, D. Goldschmitt
Communications, D. Goldschmitt
Social Services, D. Goldschmitt
Public Awareness and Community Support, D. Goldschmitt
Recovery Strategies
Government Oversight, R. Bonvino
Corporate Fundraising, R. Bonvino
Public and Private Philanthropy, R. Bonvino
Government Funding, R. Bonvino
Policy Making and International Ramifications, R. Bonvino
Marketing, J. F. Mandler
Special Circumstances
Decontamination, D. Goldschmitt
Isolation, D. Goldschmitt
Radiation Protection, D. Goldschmitt
Appendices
Conclusions
Bibliography
Organizations
Index
Biography
David Goldschmitt, MD , is a board-certified emergency physician with experience and training in Disaster Management. As the former chief of emergency at New York Downtown Hospital (only three blocks from Ground Zero) during the events of September 11, 2001, he has the practical experience and exposure that few clinicians possess in this field.A graduate of Bowdoin College Magna Cum Laude with a BA in biology and art history, and with post-graduate studies at the University of Chicago in medical sociology and hospital administration, culminating in receiving his MD in 1985 from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Residency Trained in Emergency Medicine at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City under New York Medical College, Dr. Goldschmittreceived his board certification in 1990.Immediately upon graduation from his residency program, he became the interim director of Emergency Medicine at Metropolitan Hospital after the untimely death of the original director, Dr. Ralph Altman, a visionary and pioneer in the field of Emergency Medicine. He held that post for one year until a replacement director could be found, and then remained as assistant director of the Emergency Department and Emergency Medicine Residency Program for the next eight years.During that time, he was also liaison to the NYC EMS (prior to the relocation of EMS into FDNY). During that time, he worked at several emergency departments as a clinical attending physician, which led him to New York Downtown Hospital in 1996.One year later, he became director of the Emergency Department and the EMS Paramedic Unit, a position he held for eight years, recently stepping down to an attending physician position in order to pursue other interests, such as writing. Prior to September 11th, Dr. Goldschmitt orchestrated the training of the hospital staff in incident command disaster management, and helped to shape t
