Report on the Domestic Natural Disaster Health Workforce
Abstract
The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (ncdmph.usuhs.edu) prepared this report to describe selected aspects of the health professions workforce who would respond to a catastrophic domestic natural disaster. The report analyzes core Federal departments supporting Emergency Support Function #8 (ESF#8), Public Health and Medical Services, of the National Response Framework; examines three key occupational sub-groups first at the National level then the State (California) and local level (Los Angeles): emergency and critical care physicians, emergency and critical-care nurses, and paramedics; uses a pilot case study focusing on a theoretical major earthquake scenario in the southern California region to describe the anticipated local, State, and Federal ESF#8 workforce responding to the fictional earthquake; and incorporates feedback from a multi-stakeholder conference. Recommendations are provided regarding: double counting of responders, volunteer failure to respond, an aging medical workforce, human capital development, personnel asset visibility, readiness, deployment of subunits, and updating and expanding the current report. The understanding of the "who" of the workforce provides the skeleton for appending the "what" of competencies and standards and the "how" of curricula. This report informs Federal partners as they seek to develop supporting policies, plans, programs, and exercises.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA556378
Entities
People
- Cynthia Hovor
- Kandra Strauss-riggs
- Kenneth Schor
- Laurie Chow
- Tim Moriarty