Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-20T07:05:08.376Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Foreign Medical Teams: What Role Can They Play in Response to a Catastrophic Disaster in the US?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2013

Dan Hanfling  and
Nidhi Bouri
Dan Hanfling*
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Health Security, Baltimore, Maryland Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
Nidhi Bouri
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Health Security, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dan Hanfling, MD, 3300 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 (e-mail dan.hanfling@inova.org).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that a catastrophic event in the continental United States (US) can overwhelm domestic medical response capabilities. The recent focus on response planning for a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the detonation of an improvised nuclear device also underscore the need for improved plans. The purpose of this analysis is to identify the potential role of foreign medical teams (FMTs) in providing medical response to a catastrophic event in the US. We reviewed existing policies and frameworks that address medical response to catastrophic events and humanitarian emergencies and assess current response capabilities by a variety of FMTs. While several policies and plans outline the role of the US in providing medical assistance during foreign disasters, further planning is necessary to identify how the US will integrate foreign medical assistance during a domestic catastrophic event. We provide an overview of considerations related to federal roles and responsibilities for managing and integrating FMTs into the overarching domestic medical response to a catastrophic disaster occurring in the continental US. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:555-562)

Keywords

international disaster responsecatastrophesmedical assistanceforeign medical teamscomplex humanitarian emergencies
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 6 , December 2013 , pp. 555 - 562
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

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. Quarantelli, EL. Preliminary Paper No.304: Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes Are Different Phenomena. Newark, New Jersey: University of Delaware Disaster Research Center; 2000.Google Scholar
2. Hanfling, D, Altevogt, B, Gostin, L. A framework for catastrophic disaster response. JAMA. 2012;308(7):675-676.Google Scholar
3. Gostin, L, Hanfling, D. National preparedness for a catastrophic emergency: crisis standards of care. JAMA. 2009;302(21):2365-2366.Google Scholar
4. Richard, A. Role Reversal: Offers of Help from Other Countries in Response to Hurricane Katrina. Washington, DC: Center for Transatlantic Relations; 2006.Google Scholar
5. Soloman, J, Hsu, S. Most Katrina aid from overseas went unclaimed. WashingtonPost.com. April 29, 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/28/AR2007042801113.html. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
6. Presidency of the Republic of Mexico. President Fox sends new message about disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina. September 5, 2005. http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/en/activities/?contenido=20654&pagina=7. Accessed July 1, 2013.Google Scholar
7. Canadian Consulate General. Update: Canada's support and assistance to the U.S. in wake of Hurricane Katrina. September 7, 2005. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/update-canadas-support-and-assistance-to-the-us-in-wake-of-hurricane-katrina-67349792.html. Accessed on July 1, 2013.Google Scholar
8. Connolly, C. Katrina food aid blocked by U.S. rules. WashingtonPost.com. October 14, 2005. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/13/AR2005101302084.html. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
9. CREW Releases Report Detailing International Assistance Offers in Wake of Hurricane Katrina [press release]. Washington, DC: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; July 27, 2007. http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/entry/crew-releases-report-detailing-international-assistance-offers-in-wake-of-h. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
10. Lind, K, Gerdin, M, Wladis, A, Westman, L, von Schreeb, J. Time for order in chaos! A health system framework for foreign medical teams in earthquakes. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(1):90-93.Google Scholar
11. Chu, K, Stokes, C, Trelles, M, Ford, N. Improving effective surgical delivery in humanitarian disasters: lessons from Haiti. PLoS Med. 2011;8(4):e1001025.Google Scholar
12. Aitken, P, Leggat, PA, Robertson, AG, Harley, H, Speare, R, Leclercq, MG. Leadership and use of standards by Australian disaster medical assistance teams: results of a national survey of team members. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):142-147.Google Scholar
Guidelines for the use of foreign field hospitals in the aftermath of sudden-impact disaster. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2003;18(4):278-290.Google Scholar
14. Nickerson, J, Chackungal, S, Knowlton, L, McQueen, K, Burkle, FM. Surgical care during humanitarian crises: a systematic review of published surgical caseload data from foreign medical teams. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):184-189.Google Scholar
15. Farfel, A, Assa, A, Amir, I, etal. Haiti earthquake 2010: a field hospital pediatric perspective. Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170:519-525.Google Scholar
16. Bar-On, E, Lebel, E, Kreiss, Y, etal. Orthopaedic management in a mega mass casualty situation: the Israel Defence Forces Field Hospital in Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake. Intl J Care Injured. 2011;42:1053-1059.Google Scholar
17. Chu, K, Trelles, M, Ford, N. Quality of care in humanitarian surgery. World J Surg. 2011;35:1169-1172.Google Scholar
18. Von Schreeb, J, Riddez, L, Samnegard, H, Rosling, H. Foreign field hospitals in the recent sudden-onset disasters in Iran, Haiti, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23(2):144-151.Google Scholar
19. EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Database. Natural Disaster Trends. Brussels, Belgium: Super Admin EMDAT; 2012. http://www.emdat.be/natural-disasters-trends. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
20. Institute of Medicine. Crisis Standards of Care: A Systems Framework for Catastrophic Disaster Response. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2012.Google Scholar
21. Institute of Medicine. Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations: A Letter Report. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2009.Google Scholar
22. Hanfling, D. Delivering medical care in a catastrophe: time for crisis standards. In: Inglesby T, Cicero A, eds. A Crossroads in Biosecurity: Steps to Strengthen U.S. Preparedness. Baltimore, Maryland: Center for Biosecurity of UPMC; 2011:23-26.Google Scholar
23. Hanfling, D. When the bells toll: engaging healthcare providers in catastrophic disaster response planning. South Med J. 2013;106(1):7-12.Google Scholar
24. Toner, E, Waldhorn, R, Franco, C. A national disaster medical system for the 21st century. Biosecur Bioterr. 2007;5(3):192-193.Google Scholar
25. Pafford, B. So nigh and grandeur: volunteerism and disaster preparedness and response. South Med J. 2013;106(1):4-6.Google Scholar
26. Cone, DC, Weird, SD, Bogucki, S. Convergent volunteerism. Ann Emerg Med. 2003;41(4):457-462.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. Babcock, C, Baer, C, Bayram, J, etal. Chicago medical response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti: translating academic collaboration into direct humanitarian response. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010;4(2):169-173.Google Scholar
28. Babcock, C, Theodosis, C, Bills, C, etal. The academic health center in complex humanitarian emergencies: lessons learned from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Acad Med. 2012;87(11):1609-1615.Google Scholar
29. Walk, RM, Donahue, TF, Stockinger, Z, etal. Haitian earthquake relief: disaster response aboard the USNS comfort. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2012;6(4):370-377.Google Scholar
30. Sarani, B, Mehta, S, Ashburn, M, etal. The academic medical centre and nongovernmental organization partnership following a natural disaster. Disasters. 2012;36(4):609-616.Google Scholar
31. Approved: Revisions to emergency management standards for critical access hospitals, hospitals, and long term care. Joint Commission Perspectives. 2007;27(6):7–8.Google Scholar
32. United Nations Treaty Collection. Definition of key terms used in the UN Treaty Collection. http://treaties.un.org/Pages/Overview.aspx?path=overview/definition/page1_en.xml#agreements. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
33. US Constitution. Article II, sect 2, clause 2.Google Scholar
34. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. INSARAG-International Search and Rescue Advisory Group Guidelines and Methodology. New York, New York: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; March 2011. http://ochanet.unocha.org/p/Documents/INSARAG%20Guidelines%202011-Latest.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
35. Federal Emergency Management Agency. National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) Quick Look Report. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency; June 14, 2011. http://www.fema.gov/txt/media/factsheets/2011/nle11_quick_look_report.txt. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
36. Zoraster, RM. Enhancing healthcare sector coordination through infrastructure logistics support. Am J Disaster Med. 2010;5(4):215-219.Google Scholar
37. McDaniel, WJ. Lessons learned from Indonesia: an outline. Mil Med. 2006;171(10)(suppl 1):59-62.Google Scholar
38. Below, R, Vos, F, Guha-Sapir, D. Moving Towards Harmonization of Disaster Data: A Study of Six Asian Databases. Brussels, Belgium: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Working Paper No. 272; September 2010. http://www.cred.be/sites/default/files/WP272.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
39. Tarantino, D. Asian tsunami relief: Department of Defense public health response: policy and strategic coordination considerations. Mil Med. 2006;171(10)(suppl 1):15-18.Google Scholar
40. Morton, M, Levy, JL. Challenges in disaster data collection during recent disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2011;26(3):196-201.Google Scholar
41. Redmond, AD, Mardel, S, Taithe, B, etal. A qualitative and quantitative study of the surgical and rehabilitation response to the earthquake in Haiti, January 2010. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2011;26(6):449-456.Google Scholar
42. Federal Emergency Management Agency. International Assistance System Concept of Operations. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency; October 1, 2010. http://www.ifrc.org/docs/idrl/748EN.pdf. Accessed August 2, 2012.Google Scholar
43. Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DSCF Handbook: Tactical Level Commander and Staff Toolkit. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; January 2012. http://info.publicintelligence.net/CommanderDSCAHandbook.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
44. North American Plan for Animal and Pandemic Influenza. April 2, 2012. http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/international/Documents/napapi.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
45. North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Agreement between parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding Status of their Forces. Brussels, Belgium: North Atlantic Treaty Organization; June 19, 1951. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17265.htm. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
46. Fisher, D. Law and Legal Issues in International Disaster Response: A Desk Study. Geneva. Switzerland: International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; 2007, www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/41194/113600-idrl-deskstudy-en.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
47. North American Treaty Organization. NATO Disaster Relief Operation to Pakistan. Unclassified Briefing; December 2007. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/77695382/2NATO-CIMIC-Brief-GP-Dec07ppt. Accessed July 20, 2012.Google Scholar
48. World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization. WHO-PAHO Guidelines for the Use of Foreign Field Hospitals in the Aftermath of Sudden-Impact Disasters. Washington, DC: WHO-PAHO; January 2003.Google Scholar
49. de Ville de Goyet, C, Sarmiento, JP, Grunewald, F. Health Response to the Earthquake in Haiti January 2010: Lessons to be Learned for the Next Massive Sudden-Onset Disaster. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization; 2011.Google Scholar
50. Gerdin, M, Wladis, A, von Schreeb, J. Foreign field hospitals after the 2010 Haiti earthquake: how good were we? Emerg Med J. 2013;30(1):e8.Google Scholar
51. World Health Organization. Global Health Cluster Meeting Report; Geneva, Switzerland; March 22-23, 2011. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/about/global_health_cluster_report_23march2011.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
52. World Health Organization. FMT Concept Paper. Brussels, Belgium: World Health Organization; March 18, 2011. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/about/ghc_annex9_field_medical_team_concept_note_18march2011.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
53. Norton, I, von Schreeb, J, Aitken, P, etal. Technical Criteria for Classification and Minimum Standards of Foreign Medical Teams. Final Draft. Brussels, Belgium: World Health Organization; March 2013. http://www.apednn.org/uploads/ForeignMedTeamsMinimumStandard.pdf. Accessed September 13, 2013.Google Scholar
54. Interagency Standing Committee. A Health Cluster Concept Paper. Brussels, Belgium: World Health Organization; May 18, 2011. http://apps.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/about/ghc_annex8_fmt_field_deploy_concept_paper.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
55. US Department of Health and Human Services. The Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals. http://www.phe.gov/esarvhp/pages/about.aspx. Accessed June 30, 2013.Google Scholar
56. US Department of Health and Human Services. Division of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps. https://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage. Accessed June 30, 2013.Google Scholar
57. Field Hearing before the Subcommittee of the US House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications (2011). 112th Cong. 1st Sess (2011). Statement of Andrew Velasquez, regional administrator, FEMA). http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/programs/legislative/testimony/2011/10_28_2011_state_of_northern_border_preparedness.pdf. Accessed on July 1, 2013.Google Scholar
58. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Requesting an 1135 Waiver. http://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/H1N1/downloads/RequestingAWaiver101.pdf. Updated November 4, 2009. Accessed March 11, 2013.Google Scholar
59. US Food and Drug Administration. Information on importation of drugs, prepared by the Division of Import Operations and Policy, FDA. Updated June 30, 2010. http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ImportProgram/ucm173751.htm. Accessed July 1, 2013.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Hanfling Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material

Download Hanfling Supplementary Material(File)
File 61.4 KB
Supplementary material: File

Hanfling Supplementary Material

Appendix

Download Hanfling Supplementary Material(File)
File 70.1 KB
Supplementary material: PDF

Hanfling Supplementary Material

Diagram

Download Hanfling Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 1 MB