Newsletters

POSTED: October 15th, 2021
POSTED IN: EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, September/October 2021,

Written by Douglas Char, MD, FACEP

Floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, ice storms, and an unrelenting COVID pandemic. It’s been a heck of a year in terms of disasters (and hurricane season runs until December).  As emergency physicians we sometimes describe our daily work situation as a “disaster” but we all hope in our hearts to never be caught up in a “real disaster”. (God, please let that happen on someone else’s shift). We all know that if and when a major disaster hits, our emergency departments will be directly impacted and many in the hospital will turn to us for help and guidance.  It’s sobering to think that others will almost surely turn to the emergency department for leadership.  Will you be ready?  September was National Preparedness Month (better late than sorry)!

Many emergency physicians avoid thinking about disaster preparedness and what, how they will react if called upon.  Most of us know that every hospital is required to have a disaster plan, but I doubt many of us could recite key points of the plan if asked.  Few have participated in the hospital’s annual disaster drill.  Those who have often comment on how “unrealistic” it was and laugh (joke) at the assumptions made about how the hospital will respond in a time of need. While some areas of the country are more prone to hurricanes and wild fires, the Midwest is at risk for earthquakes, major flooding, tornadoes and ice storms.

Now would be an excellent time to spend 30 minutes making sure that you are ready and able to respond and lead if impacted by a major disaster. Start by finding a copy of your ED disaster plan (If you don’t know where it is, likely nobody does!).  How will you hear about some catastrophic event?  Who do you notify (upward communication) and who has the authority to initiate the hospital’s emergency plan?  Is there a command center, who will be running the show?  What is your responsibility as the ED physician?  The plan should provide answers to all these questions. If you are on duty when something happens what will you be called upon to do.  How will you handle existing patients in the ED?  What about triaging the anticipated flood of casualties?  Who will you call for help and what resources do you have to work with. Does your physician group have a disaster phone tree – how will you get a hold of people (especially if the power is out, roads potentially closed)?  Testing your phone tree is a critical part of a well-conceived disaster drill.  Not sure where to start – check out these site:

1. ASPR Health Care Readiness Programs (a whole suite of products) – https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/healthcare-readiness/Pages/default.aspx
2. ACEP Hospital Disaster Preparedness Self-Assessment Tool (DHS/FEMA funded) – https://www.acep.org/globalassets/uploads/uploaded-files/acep/clinical-and-practice-management/ems-and-disaster-preparedness/hospital-disaster-preparedness-self-assessment-tool.doc
3. California Hospital Preparedness website – https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/
4. CDC Preparedness and Planning – https://emergency.cdc.gov/planning/index.asp

Multiple studies have shown that physician and healthcare workers expect to be called upon and are willing to help during disasters, but they want to know that their families are safe.   Just as we plan for disasters at the hospital, you should have a family emergency plan and supplies. Communication is often the plans Achilles heel.  Thinking about how family members will stay in contact and where they’ll meet up is key.  Knowing you family is safe allows you to stay focused at work.  There are some nice, simple emergency planning guides for home use.  Your family is worth an hour of your time.  Get everyone involved!!  Check out some helpful websites: 

1. American Red Cross “Make a Plan” – https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html
2. Ready.gov (FEMA) – https://www.ready.gov/plan