Medical Disaster Response: A Survival Guide for Hospitals in Mass Casualty Events

by David Goldschmitt (Editor), Robert Bonvino (Editor)

While the job of a clinician in a disaster scenario is to save lives without regard for the cause or rationale for the injury, medical and emergency professionals who understand the diverse aspects of a disaster are better equipped to respond effectively. Giving emergency personnel the tools they need to perform in catastrophic situations, Medical Disaster A Survival Guide for Hospitals in Mass Casualty Events addresses the critical planning and response issues surrounding a mass casualty disaster before, during, and after the event. The book presents the fundamental components of a comprehensive medical disaster management plan that provides readers with a framework for developing individual policies to suit their particular institution. It examines natural, man-made, and terrorist disasters, and offers insight into the different strategies required for distinct scenarios, as well as the need to be prepared for the cascade effect of secondary events resulting from the original disaster. Real case studies examining medical disaster response This volume provides a powerful and unique case example through a chronology of the events of September 11th, offering a firsthand account and insight into the quintessential test case for disaster response effectiveness. It also profiles other notorious events―including Hurricane Katrina, the Madrid bombings, the SARS outbreak in 2004, and the sarin gas attack in Tokyo in 2005―as seen through the eyes of the expert contributors who witnessed and responded to these tragedies. The book presents the lessons learned from these events by the contributing authors who acted on the front lines of the medical disaster response. It is a valuable reference manual for emergency planning, response, and healthcare professionals to confront future disasters and help prevent and mitigate destruction and unnecessary casualties.

864 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2009

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beast of a book, but extremely insightful. I learned a lot about how hospitals alienate themselves from the rest of the Emergency Response community and end up paying for it. The problem with both Emergency Responders and Hospitals is that this is the "Large Ego" community. Which means they don't always know how to play nice with each other to the detriment of everyone else.

Overall a very decent read though the author has a tendency to go off on long tangents about subjects well outside his area of expertise.