Preparing South Carolina Emergency Departments for Mass Casualties with an Emphasis on the Planning Process
Abstract
This thesis addresses the role of the emergency department in planning for mass casualties during an emergency. The demand on hospital emergency departments has stretched the capacity for normal operations beyond their original design. Hospital surge capacity is not only complex, but affects every hospital emergency department in the country. Factors such as hospital bed capacity, surge levels, staffing, and the use of volunteers in times of emergency all play a critical role in the ability and accessibility of the hospital to react during times of need. The recommendations provided are based on an analysis of county, state, and federal plans along with case studies that provide a varied approach to emergency preparedness. The thesis addresses the following quesitons: (1) How should hospitals determine their needs for dealing with mass casualty events, and how do they assess their risk level?; and (2) Which policy recommendations for the decontamination process can be put into place for South Carolina hospital emergency departments to prepare actively for a mass-casualty event?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA580072
Entities
People
- Colleen M. Donovan
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School