University of Washington Bothell Healthcare Emergency Management Responses

Classmates responses1st
2 hours ago
Week 8 Discussion
Sara Thompson
COLLAPSE
Describe ways to demonstrate the core competencies described by James et al.
Describe hazard-specific competencies for a hospital emergency manager.
Examples of demonstrating proficiency in the core competencies for hazard-specific events can include
properly donning PPE and instructing others in proper protocol when responding to a chemical spill,
engaging in appropriate hand washing and disease prevention activities and community education during a
flu epidemic, demonstrating the use of proper triage protocols in a mass casualty incident, and if it is within
the scope of your practice, assessing and treating illnesses and injuries based on the methods outlined in your
facility’s EOP during and following a large scale weather event.
The hospital emergency manager should be well versed in the contents of the EOP, ensure it is up to date, and
that exercises and drills are being completed as necessary. In specific events, such as a hurricane, the
emergency manager should have relationships with local experts that can provide guidance on the projected
path and areas of vulnerability so the EM can make sure the facility and employees are prepared to activate.
The EM should also have knowledge on the backup power systems, as well as what to do should the backup
system fail, and should be able to communicate, either directly with the media or through the facility’s PIO,
pertinent information useful in keeping the community safe.
2nd
1 day ago
Week 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
Douglas Wo
COLLAPSE
Describe ways to demonstrate the core competencies described by James et al.
James et al. suggested that Disaster medicine and public health preparedness (DMPHP) is a unique health
discipline and profession that integrate clinical and public health science. Competencies in health professions
are often measured through retrospective and prospective evaluations. Retrospective evaluation is the most
reliable and straightforward method to evaluate competencies. By reviewing the outcome of an actual event,
each competency can be reviewed individually and objectively. For instance, a practitioner’s successful
performance of a procedure indicates his or her competency in the procedure. Similarly, in DMPHP, the
infection rate of healthcare workers can be a strong indicator of competency in personal protective
equipment. After-Action Reports can offer useful data in retrospective evaluations. However, retrospective
evaluation of competencies in DMPHP can be problematic since public health emergencies are rare events.
For prospective evaluation, competencies can be categorized into either knowledge and skills. Written
examinations are useful in the testing of knowledge and cognitive abilities. Skills involved in DMPHP can be
considered “high-risk/low frequency.”
4.2 Demonstrate proficiency in the selection and use of personal protective equipment at a disaster scene or
receiving facility.
4.3 Demonstrate proficiency in victim decontamination at a disaster scene or receiving facility.
5.1 Demonstrate proficiency in the use of triage systems in a disaster or public health emergency.
5.2 Demonstrate proficiency in the clinical assessment and management of injuries, illnesses, and mental
health conditions manifested by all ages and populations in a disaster or public health emergency.
In many health professions, high fidelity simulations are useful in evaluating “high-risk/low frequency” skills.
Simulation is not only useful in evaluating psychomotor skills, but it is also useful in the evaluation of affective
skills associated with certain competencies. Competencies like 4.3 and 5.1 require not only cognitive and
psychomotor skills; they also require affective ability to manage emotional stress.
Describe hazard-specific competencies for a hospital emergency manager.
James et al. took an all-hazard approach when formulating core competencies for all health professionals.
However, a hospital emergency manager requires more than just general all-hazard competencies. There are
specific hazards that many hospitals may encounter that require more than just an all-hazard approach, such
as CBRNE and pandemic competencies.
For CBRNE and pandemic, a hospital emergency manager needs to demonstrate:
the ability to recognize different agents and the health and safety hazards they pose;
the ability to select the appropriate personal protective equipment for hospital employees
the ability to plan and execute appropriate decontamination and isolation procedures;
the ability to identify effective medical and non-pharmaceutical countermeasures.
3rd
3 days ago
Anne Graf
Week 8
COLLAPSE
The core competencies described by James et al. are all important qualifications an emergency
manager should be proficient in. There are a variety of ways to demonstrate these core
competencies.
Preparation and planning
Demonstrating a proficiency in the use of an all-hazards framework for disaster planning and
mitigation could be shown through the ability to construct a Threat and Hazard Identification and
Risk Assessment (THIRA). By identifying all threats and hazards that are of concern to a
community, an emergency planner can establish core capabilities and resources that can mitigate
the threats (FEMA, 2013). This is a good way to demonstrate and all-hazards framework of
disaster planning because it is a standardized approach to risk analysis.
Detection and Communication
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of information and communication systems in a disaster or
public health emergency. This can be achieved using one communication channel to notify and
update all stakeholders. The Washington D.C. healthcare coalition demonstrates this competency
by setting set guidelines on specific processes, procedures, and technology related to the
communication systems utilized by the D.C. Healthcare coalition (DC EHC, 2014). Those within
the coalition as well as external partners, such as government agencies are all capable of
accessing information through this channel so everyone has the same situational awareness
regarding a disaster or public health emergency.
Incident Management and Support Systems
Demonstrate proficiency in the provision of health system surge capacity for the management of
mass casualties in a disaster or public health emergency. It is important to be able to utilize every
part of an emergency department, or whole hospital itself, if needed to support the number of
patients coming in. A way to demonstrate this core competency is to set up a full-scale mass
casualty drill. The Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents (HERT)
is a 3-day course that addresses healthcare response at an operational level for the facility and
personnel (FEMA, n.d.). It will assess the ability of a health facility’s to appropriately respond to
mass casualty incidents to bioterrorism, natural disaster, infectious disease among others.
Safety and Security
Demonstrate proficiency in the selection and use of personal protective equipment at a disaster
scene or receiving facility. A way to demonstrate this would be to have access to personal
protective equipment within ambulances and healthcare facilities, such as gloves, face masks,
decontamination units.
Clinical/Public Health Assessment and Intervention
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of triage systems in a disaster or public health emergency. A
way to demonstrate this competency would simply be to train and drill staff in triage. The HERT
course I explained above does assess this as a competency when training healthcare facilities and
emergency response personnel.
Contingency, Continuity, and Recovery
Demonstrate proficiency in the application of recovery solutions for all ages, populations,
institutions, and communities affected by a disaster or public health emergency. A way to
demonstrate this competency is to partner with organizations that are important to the
community, this could be religious institutions, cultural institutions, non-profits among many
others. Collaborating with community organizations and social services in the preparation of a
disaster will lead to a more successful recovery. This is evident because these services are
heavily engaged in the community and individuals they serve (Committee on Post-Disaster
Recovery of a Community’s Public Health, Medical et al., 2005), which would improve the
health and recovery process of the community.
Hazard Specific competencies for a hospital emergency manager would consist of being able to
execute and manage an Emergency Operations Plan. This would entail recognizing what hazards
would warrant a partial or full activation and when to communicate to external support systems,
such as a healthcare coalition. This would require planning a framework that hospital emergency
managers can follow to look for concepts or activities that would trigger the EOP, in some
capacity when needed (Western Region Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition, n.d.). Having
a proficient competency of recognizing EOP activation will ensure an appropriate an effective
response by the healthcare facility.
References:
Committee on Post-Disaster Recovery of a Community’s Public Health, Medical, and Social
Services; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Institute of Medicine. (2015). Healthy, Resilient, and
Sustainable Communities After Disasters: Strategies, Opportunities, and Planning for
Recovery. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 10. 8, Social Services.
Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK316542/
DC EHC. (2014). DC Emergency Healthcare Coalition communications support annex.
Retrieved from: https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/08-dc-ehc-communicationsannex-for-member-organizations-6-2014-508.pdf
FEMA. (n.d.). Hospital emergency response training for mass casualty incidents. Retrieved
from: https://cdp.dhs.gov/find-training/course/PER-902
FEMA. (2013). Threat and hazard identification and risk assessment guide. Retrieved
from: https://bblearn.philau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/19FL-DMM-610-1-2-999/17SPDMM-610-999_ImportedContent_20161025013001/610Threat%20and%20Hazard%20Identification%20and%20Risk%20Assessment%20Guide.
pdf
James, J. J., Benjamin, G. C., Burkle, F. M., Gebbie, K. M., &Kelen, G. D. (2010). Disaster
medicine and public health preparedness: A discipline for all health professionals. Disaster Med
Public Health Preparedness, 4(2), 102-107.
Western Region Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition. (n.d.). Emergency operations
activation levels. Retrieved from: https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/aspr-tracie-ta–eop-activation-and-triggers—9-5-19.pdf
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OOL
2 hours ago
Sara Thompson
RE: Week 8
Hi Douglas and Anne,
I think it is a bit overly ambitious to expect all health professionals to have the ability to construct a THIRA. However, it is absolutely
essential that the emergency manager, as well as the employees involved with the EOP, have that ability. Having several people
conducting the THIRA brings several opinions and different ways of thinking to the table, which helps to ensure that all hazards and
threats are identified, and proper steps taken to prepare the hospital for that potential.
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Anne Graf
1 hour ago
RE: Week 8
I will have to respectfully disagree. Expecting a THIRA as part of a planning process is not overly ambitious. Each health professional is
not making their own THIRA. Rather, the healthcare facility itself, is constructing the THIRA with all healthcare personnel sharing their
thoughts and concerns. I believe it is with this type of collaboration that a healthcare facility can plan using an “all-hazards” approach.
If it is the emergency manager that heads the project, or some other administrator, is great. But the staff have different expertise and
experiences regarding hazards, resources and response method.
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FEMA. (2013). Threat and hazard identification and risk assessment guide. Retrieved
from: https://bblearn.philau.edu/bbcswebdav/courses/19FL-DMM-610-1-2-999/17SP-DMM-610-
999 ImportedContent_20161025013001/610-
Threat%20and%20Hazard%20Identification%20and%20Risk%20Assessment%20Guide.pdf
James, J. J., Benjamin, G. C., Burkle, F. M., Gebbie, K. M., &Kelen, G. D. (2010). Disaster medicine and public health
preparedness: A discipline for all health professionals. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness, 4(2), 102-107.
Western Region Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition. (n.d.). Emergency operations activation levels. Retrieved
from: https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/aspr-tracie-ta—eop-activation-and-triggers—9-5-19.pdf
Reply
OO
8 hours ago
Douglas
RE: Week 8
Anne,
Great post. I am very impressed by how you broke down all the competencies and explained how to demonstrate each one of them. While
Jame et al. attempted to established core competencies for “all health professional”, do you think the ability to develop THIRA might be a
little too much to ask for? All of us here spent weeks just to learn how to write a THIRA. I personally think it may be slightly over-ambitious.
However, I do believe it is a good direction.
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Sara Thompson
2 hours ago
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of triage systems in a disaster or public health emergency. A way to demonstrate this competency
would simply be to train and drill staff in triage. The HERT course I explained above does assess this as a competency when training
healthcare facilities and emergency response personnel.
Contingency, Continuity, and Recovery
Demonstrate proficiency in the application of recovery solutions for all ages, populations, institutions, and communities affected by
a disaster or public health emergency. A way to demonstrate this competency is to partner with organizations that are important to
the community, this could be religious institutions, cultural institutions, non-profits among many others. Collaborating with
community organizations and social services in the preparation of a disaster will lead to a more successful recovery. This is evident
because these services are heavily engaged in the community and individuals they serve (Committee on Post-Disaster Recovery of a
Community’s Public Health, Medical et al., 2005), which would improve the health and recovery process of the community.
Hazard Specific competencies for a hospital emergency manager would consist of being able to execute and manage an Emergency
Operations Plan. This would entail recognizing what hazards would warrant a partial or full activation and when to communicate to
external support systems, such as a healthcare coalition. This would require planning a framework that hospital emergency managers
can follow to look for concepts or activities that would trigger the EOP, in some capacity when needed (Western Region Health
Emergency Preparedness Coalition, n.d.). Having a proficient competency of recognizing EOP activation will ensure an appropriate
an effective response by the healthcare facility.
References:
Committee on Post-Disaster Recovery of a Community’s Public Health, Medical, and Social Services; Board on Health Sciences
Policy; Institute of Medicine. (2015). Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters: Strategies, Opportunities,
and Planning for Recovery. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 10. 8, Social Services. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK316542/
DC EHC. (2014). DC Emergency Healthcare Coalition communications support annex. Retrieved
from: https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/08-dc-ehc-communications-annex-for-member-organizations-6-2014-508.pdf
FEMA. (n.d.). Hospital emergency response training for mass casualty incidents. Retrieved from: https://cdp.dhs.gov/find-
training/course/PER-902
FEMA. (2013). Threat and hazard identification and risk assessment guide. Retrieved
Instructor Bio
Topics of Study
Anne Graf
3 days ago
Discussions
Week 80
Section 2 Students
The core competencies described by James et al. are all important qualifications an emergency manager should be proficient in.
There are a variety of ways to demonstrate these core competencies.
Course Documents
DMM Library Resources
Preparation and planning
Demonstrating a proficiency in the use of an all-hazards framework for disaster planning and mitigation could be shown through the
ability to construct a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). By identifying all threats and hazards that are
of concern to a community, an emergency planner can establish core capabilities and resources that can mitigate the threats (FEMA,
2013). This is a good way to demonstrate and all-hazards framework of disaster planning because it is a standardized approach to
risk analysis.
My Grades
Send Email
Blackboard Help
Detection and Communication
Student Resources
Course Evaluations
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of information and communication systems in a disaster or public health emergency. This can be
achieved using one communication channel to notify and update all stakeholders. The Washington D.C. healthcare coalition
demonstrates this competency by setting set guidelines on specific processes, procedures, and technology related to the
communication systems utilized by the D.C. Healthcare coalition (DC EHC, 2014). Those within the coalition as well as external
partners, such as government agencies are all capable of accessing information through this channel so everyone has the same
situational awareness regarding a disaster or public health emergency.
Student Handbook
Technology Help Desk
Academic Success Center
Incident Management and Support Systems
Gutman Library
University Bookstore
Demonstrate proficiency in the provision of health system surge capacity for the management of mass casualties in a disaster or
public health emergency. It is important to be able to utilize every part of an emergency department, or whole hospital itself, if
needed to support the number of patients coming in. A way to demonstrate this core competency is to set up a full-scale mass
casualty drill. The Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents (HERT) is a 3-day course that addresses
healthcare response at an operational level for the facility and personnel (FEMA, n.d.). It will assess the ability of a health facility’s
to appropriately respond to mass casualty incidents to bioterrorism, natural disaster, infectious disease among others.
Safety and Security
Demonstrate proficiency in the selection and use of personal protective equipment at a disaster scene or receiving facility. A way to
demonstrate this would be to have access to personal protective equipment within ambulances and healthcare facilities, such as
gloves, face masks, decontamination units.
Clinical/Public Health Assessment and Intervention