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CONTACT General Hospital Steve Chambers Lynn Van der Veer 11121 Gambrill Park Road Frederick, MD 21702 301-293-4192  This information was accurate at the time of publication. © 2006 |
The threat of domestic chemical or biological terrorism has heightened in recent years
The threat of domestic chemical or biological terrorism has heightened in recent years, but the nation's health care facilities remain poorly prepared for such events, says an article published in the January 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Authors Anthony Macintyre, MD, and Joseph Barbera, MD, of the George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine in collaboration with experts at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Public Health Service, propose a model for preparedness.
The use of chemical or biological "weapons of mass destruction"could cause large numbers of civilian casualties to present at health care facilities with little warning. Proper reaction to both types of terrorist acts would require health care facilities to have in place comprehensive plans for handling contaminated patients, but few do, the authors state.
"Many health care facilities are not prepared to handle even small numbers of casualties from a minor incident involving common hazardous materials," said Anthony Macintyre, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine at The George Washington University. "Our hospitals and emergency response systems need to be better prepared for an event that could affect a whole community."
Facilities should establish a plan of action for chemical or biological incidents that includes prompt recognition of the incident, proper protection for health care workers, efficient decontamination and medical treatment and coordination with community emergency response agencies, according to the authors.
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