Hospital Deployment Plan for Mass Casualty Events (MCE)
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
Maintaining the preparedness of the hospital for emergencies is an ongoing process that obliges continuous actions in order to assure constant readiness.
Basic Assumptions:
1) TASMC is committed to administering optimal medical services to casualties during conventional, toxicological, and biological MCE;
2) The operation of the hospital during MCE is characterized by an expansion of the routine services and the establishment of directed services;
3) Maximizing capabilities in treating casualties necessitates an assurance of skills of each member in performing his roles.
Major Principles:
1) Operating an Emergency Committee with representatives from multi-disciplinary fields;
2) Preparation of standing orders for the hospital for all events;
3) Pre-designation of admission sites for conventional and non-conventional MCE;
4) Expansion of facilities;
5) Designation of hospital staff to the admission sites, creation of special roles;
6) Operation of ancillary and voluntary teams;
7) Maintaining training programs;
8) Logistic support;
9) Equipment;
10) Communication systems;
11) Decontamination facilities, etc.
Summary: Maintaining a constant level of alert and readiness for MCE necessitates:
1) Personal obligation of an Emergency Committee;
2) Preemptive thought and planning;
3) Continuous, uninterrupted activity; and
4) Emphasis on planning and performance of minor details as well as major details.
Keywords: expansion; hospital; mass casualty event; planning; preparedness; standing orders; teams; training
Return to Table of Contents, Volume 15
Return to PDM Home Page