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Disaster Modeling: Medication Resources Required for Disaster Team Response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Marc S. Rosenthal ,
Kelly Klein ,
Kathleen Cowling ,
Mary Grzybowski  and
Robert Dunne
Marc S. Rosenthal*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Kelly Klein
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Kathleen Cowling
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Synergy Medical Alliance, Inc., Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Mary Grzybowski
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Robert Dunne
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
*
Department of Emergency MedicineSinai-Grace Hospital/DMCWayne State University6071 W. Outer DriveDetroit, MI 48235USA E-mail: drmsr@aya.yale.edu
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Abstract

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Introduction:

Responses to disasters involve many factors beyond personnel, such as medical andnon-medical equipment and supplies. When disaster teams respond, they must do so with sufficient amounts of medicine and supplies to manage all of the patients expected for several days before re-supply. In order for this process to be efficient and expedient, accurate and advanced planning for supplies needed by disaster workers is necessary. These supplies must provide for general medical care and for hazard-specific problems.

Objective:

To develop a model that provides the framework for determining supply requirements for the National Disaster Medical System, Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, or other responding disaster teams in a civilian environment.

Methods:

A community hospital was modeled to determine patient characteristics when presenting to an emergency department (ED), including patient demographics and chief complaint, medications administered during the emergency department visit and prescribed at discharge, and laboratory tests ordered to assess disaster team supply requirements. Data were downloaded from a patient tracking software package and abstracted from various hospital data information systems. Data from the community hospital were compared with data published from two hurricane disasters by members of the National Disaster Medical System.

Results:

To the extent possible, the model predicted the proportion of patient complaints and, therefore, the medicine and supplies needed for the management of these patients.

Conclusion:

This model offers a first step in preparing disaster medical teams for deployment.

Keywords

disaster medical assistance team (DMAT)disaster medicinedisaster modelingdisaster resourcesdisaster teamemergency departmentmedication utilizationmodelingNational Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 5 , October 2005 , pp. 309 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2005

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