Military offers lessons for dealing with mass casualties

Iraq and Afghanistan show five ways hospitals can prepare for attacks, disasters


Mass casualty incidents, or MCIs, provide a constant reminder of why hospitals need a plan in place to be able to function optimally during and after a catastrophe, according to an article on the Hospital & Health Networks Daily website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 67 percent of American hospitals have plans in place for a range of hazards.

In contrast to most civilian physicians, the military is trained to execute emergency plans for large-scale disasters. The article uses five hospitals where recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan offered useful lessons for civilian hospitals.

• Emergency response (Who's in charge?)

• Improved hospital triage

• Maintaining hospital function

• Improved communication between health care personnel

• Practice makes perfect

Read the article.

 



September 17, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

The Role of Positive Distraction in Pediatric Design

Positive distraction by itself does not heal, but it can aid the healing process by addressing the mental well-being of an individual.


Healthcare Waste is Fueling America's Debt

As healthcare spending surpasses $5 trillion annually, facility leaders are under pressure to confront operational inefficiencies head-on.


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System to Rebrand Following Sanford Health Merger

The transition of name and branding will occur in phases beginning in late June and is part of the “Together for Good” journey.


How Digital Technologies Are Reshaping Performance in Healthcare Facilities

AI can hyper-optimize hospital operations, change the patient experience and make data-driven intelligence a foundation of hospital design.


The Role of Plumbing in Healthcare-Associated Infections

Water and plumbing systems are a dangerous source of pathogens and bacteria, so the CDC has created a set of guidelines to develop a proper water management program.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.