Catalog

Abstract -- The preparedness for response to the medical consequences of a natural or technological event is an integral part of a comprehensive disaster response plan. Historically, planning and preparedness have lacked specific products and measurable objectives to determine if a jurisdiction was ready to respond.
The development and implementation of measurable objectives and implementation of those objectives in the planning process is a critical breakthrough in disaster planning. California subscribes to an “all-hazard” planning approach and uses operational planning that will work in multiple environments. The response profile for medical care in a disaster has been shown to be required within 8 hours in the situation where mass casualties are present. Two specific strategies should be employed to prepare for the medical response to disaster events. First, EMS systems should be strengthened and, second, measurable benchmarks for disaster response should be established.
The current trend is a transformation from “preparedness” to “products”, and “planning” to “operations”. The State continues to emphasize a Standardized Emergency Management System, using the principles of the Incident Command System, to achieve multi-organizational planning efforts as part of a State response plan. The foundation of medical disaster response is built on a strong “day-to-day” EMS system, using the basic components of an EMS System. Since disaster structures are unable to effectively form and respond within a short response profile, the ambulance system and emergency departments should be robust and able to increase their capabilities and capacities quickly. This recognition that the medical response is time dependent has led to specific plans to obtain rapid mobile, medical response within a time-phased deployment. These plans include benchmarks and measurable objectives related to EMS and Ambulance Strike Teams, Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, Hospital Surge capacity, communications, training, and exercises. These specific objectives form the benchmarks for evaluation of the medical preparedness for EMS and hospitals.