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Mass-Fatality Incident Preparedness Among Faith-Based Organizations
- Qi Zhi, Jacqueline A. Merrill, Robyn R. Gershon
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- Journal:
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine / Volume 32 / Issue 6 / December 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 July 2017, pp. 596-603
- Print publication:
- December 2017
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- Article
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Introduction
Members of faith-based organizations (FBOs) are in a unique position to provide support and services to their local communities during disasters. Because of their close community ties and well-established trust, they can play an especially critical role in helping communities heal in the aftermath of a mass-fatality incident (MFI). Faith-based organizations are considered an important disaster resource and partner under the National Response Plan (NRP) and National Response Framework; however, their level of preparedness and response capabilities with respect to MFIs has never been evaluated. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to develop appropriate measures of preparedness for this sector; (2) to assess MFI preparedness among United States FBOs; and (3) to identify key factors associated with MFI preparedness.
ProblemNew metrics for MFI preparedness, comprised of three domains (organizational capabilities, operational capabilities, and resource sharing partnerships), were developed and tested in a national convenience sample of FBO members.
MethodsData were collected using an online anonymous survey that was distributed through two major, national faith-based associations and social media during a 6-week period in 2014. Descriptive, bivariate, and correlational analyses were conducted.
ResultsOne hundred twenty-four respondents completed the online survey. More than one-half of the FBOs had responded to MFIs in the previous five years. Only 20% of respondents thought that roughly three-quarters of FBO clergy would be able to respond to MFIs, with or without hazardous contamination. A higher proportion (45%) thought that most FBO clergy would be willing to respond, but only 37% thought they would be willing if hazardous contamination was involved. Almost all respondents reported that their FBO was capable of providing emotional care and grief counseling in response to MFIs. Resource sharing partnerships were typically in place with other voluntary organizations (73%) and less likely with local death care sector organizations (27%) or Departments of Health (DOHs; 32%).
ConclusionsThe study suggests improvements are needed in terms of staff training in general, and specifically, drills with planning partners are needed. Greater cooperation and inclusion of FBOs in national planning and training will likely benefit overall MFI preparedness in the US.
,Zhi Q ,Merrill JA .Gershon RR Mass-Fatality Incident Preparedness Among Faith-Based Organizations . Prehosp Disaster Med.2017 ;32 (6 ):596 –603 .
Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Hospital Emergency and Dialysis Services: A Retrospective Survey
- Chou-jui Lin, Lauren C. Pierce, Patricia M. Roblin, Bonnie Arquilla
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- Journal:
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine / Volume 29 / Issue 4 / August 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 28 July 2014, pp. 374-379
- Print publication:
- August 2014
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- Article
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Objective
Hurricane Sandy forced closures of many free-standing dialysis centers in New York City in 2012. Hemodialysis (HD) patients therefore sought dialysis treatments from nearby hospitals. The surge capacity of hospital dialysis services was the rate-limiting step for streamlining the emergency department flow of HD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of the HD patients surge and to explore difficulties encountered by hospitals in Brooklyn, New York (USA) due to Hurricane Sandy.
MethodsA retrospective survey on hospital dialysis services was conducted by interviewing dialysis unit managers, focusing on the influx of HD patients from closed dialysis centers to hospitals, coping strategies these hospitals used, and difficulties encountered.
ResultsIn total, 347 HD patients presented to 15 Brooklyn hospitals for dialysis. The number of transient HD patients peaked two days after landfall and gradually decreased over a week. Hospital dialysis services reported issues with lack of dialysis documentation from transient dialysis patients (92.3%), staff shortage (50%), staff transportation (71.4%), and communication with other agencies (53.3%). Linear regression showed that factors significantly associated with enhanced surge capacity were the size of inpatient dialysis unit (P = .040), having affiliated outpatient dialysis centers (P = .032), using extra dialysis machines (P = .014), and having extra workforce (P = .007). Early emergency plan activation (P = .289) and shortening treatment time (P = .118) did not impact the surge capacity significantly in this study.
ConclusionThese findings provide potential improvement options for receiving hospitals dialysis units to prepare for future events.
. ,Lin C ,Pierce LC ,Roblin PM .Arquilla B Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Hospital Emergency and Dialysis Services: A Retrospective Survey . Prehosp Disaster Med.2014 ;29 (4 ):1 -6