Factors that Affect Information Management During Hospital Disasters
Introduction: Reliable and continuous information flow is important for effective hospital disaster response. The disaster literature is filled with evidence that communication systems and information management succumb quickly in disasters, but few solutions have been offered.
Objective: To discuss elements that undermine effective communications and information flow, and to present one strategy for dealing with these problems.
Methods: The communications and information management infrastructure of a university hospital was examined for threat resistance, survivability, utility, and versatility for both internal and external crises. Losses of telecommunications and data management systems were analyzed for their effects on patient care and hospital operations. A comprehensive action plan was developed to assure the safeguarding of information systems and the availability of redundant communication systems.
Results: The Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) was utilized as the basis to construct a position description for an information manager. This person is responsible for risk assessment, hazard identification, and contingency planning for all hospital information systems during disaster operations. Identifiable weaknesses include a lack of communications capability in proposed command post locations and insufficient protection of non-automated medical records. Other concerns include computer and medical record security, year 2000 compliance, and lack of redundancy in paging and other notification methods. To enhance familiarity and discourage fear of disaster operations, the entire disaster plan will be loaded into a central server for easy accessibility during a crisis.
Conclusion: Advanced planning, dedicated staff, and redundant communications systems are crucial to successful information management during hospital disaster response.
Keywords: communications; contingency planning; data management; disaster; hazard identification; hospital; hospital emergency incident command system (HEICS); incident command system (ICS); information management; infrastructure; planning; risk assessment; telecommunications
Jaslow D, Jones J, Papacostas A: Factors That Affect Information Management During Hospital Disasters. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1999;14(Supplement 1):S18.