Edbert B. Hsu

Mass-casualty triage: time for an evidence-based approach.

Mass-casualty triage has developed from a wartime necessity to a civilian tool to ensure that constrained medical resources are directed at achieving the greatest good for the most number of people. Several primary and secondary triage tools have been developed, including Simple Treatment and Rapid Transport (START), JumpSTART, Care Flight Triage, Triage Sieve, Sacco Triage Method, Secondary Assessment of Victim Endpoint (SAVE), and Pediatric Triage Tape. Evidence to support the use of one triage algorithm over another is limited, and the development of effective triage protocols is an important research priority. The most widely recognized mass-casualty triage algorithms in use today are not evidence-based, and no studies directly address these issues in the mass-casualty setting. Furthermore, no studies have evaluated existing mass-casualty triage algorithms regarding ease of use, reliability, and validity when biological, chemical, or radiological agents are introduced. Currently, the lack of a standardized mass-casualty triage system that is well validated, reliable, and uniformly accepted, remains an important gap. Future research directed at triage is recognized as a necessity, and the development of a practical, universal, triage algorithm that incorporates requirements for decontamination or special precautions for infectious agents would facilitate a more organized mass-casualty medical response.

Healthcare worker competencies for disaster training

BackgroundAlthough training and education have long been accepted as integral to disaster preparedness, many currently taught practices are neither evidence-based nor standardized. The need for effective evidence-based disaster training of healthcare staff at all levels, including the development of standards and guidelines for training in the multi-disciplinary health response to major events, has been designated by the disaster response community as a high priority. We describe the application of systematic evidence-based consensus building methods to derive educational competencies and objectives in criteria-based preparedness and response relevant to all hospital healthcare workers.MethodsThe conceptual development of cross-cutting competencies incorporated current evidence through a systematic consensus building process with the following steps: (1) review of peer-reviewed literature on relevant content areas and educational theory; (2) structured review of existing competencies, national level courses and published training objectives; (3) synthesis of new cross-cutting competencies; (4) expert panel review; (5) refinement of new competencies and; (6) development of testable terminal objectives for each competency using similar processes covering requisite knowledge, attitudes, and skills.ResultsSeven cross-cutting competencies were developed: (1) Recognize a potential critical event and implement initial actions; (2) Apply the principles of critical event management; (3) Demonstrate critical event safety principles; (4) Understand the institutional emergency operations plan; (5) Demonstrate effective critical event communications; (6) Understand the incident command system and your role in it; (7) Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill your role during a critical event. For each of the cross-cutting competencies, comprehensive terminal objectives are described.ConclusionCross-cutting competencies and objectives developed through a systematic evidence-based consensus building approach may serve as a foundation for future hospital healthcare worker training and education in disaster preparedness and response.

A consensus-based educational framework and competency set for the discipline of disaster medicine and public health preparedness.

BACKGROUND Various organizations and universities have developed competencies for health professionals and other emergency responders. Little effort has been devoted to the integration of these competencies across health specialties and professions. The American Medical Association Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response convened an expert working group (EWG) to review extant competencies and achieve consensus on an educational framework and competency set from which educators could devise learning objectives and curricula tailored to fit the needs of all health professionals in a disaster. METHODS The EWG conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed published literature. In addition, after-action reports from Hurricane Katrina and relevant publications recommended by EWG members and other subject matter experts were reviewed for congruencies and gaps. Consensus was ensured through a 3-stage Delphi process. RESULTS The EWG process developed a new educational framework for disaster medicine and public health preparedness based on consensus identification of 7 core learning domains, 19 core competencies, and 73 specific competencies targeted at 3 broad health personnel categories. CONCLUSIONS The competencies can be applied to a wide range of health professionals who are expected to perform at different levels (informed worker/student, practitioner, leader) according to experience, professional role, level of education, or job function. Although these competencies strongly reflect lessons learned following the health system response to Hurricane Katrina, it must be understood that preparedness is a process, and that these competencies must be reviewed continually and refined over time.

Core Competencies for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

Effective preparedness, response, and recovery from disasters require a well-planned, integrated effort with experienced professionals who can apply specialized knowledge and skills in critical situations. While some professionals are trained for this, others may lack the critical knowledge and experience needed to effectively perform under stressful disaster conditions. A set of clear, concise, and precise training standards that may be used to ensure workforce competency in such situations has been developed. The competency set has been defined by a broad and diverse set of leaders in the field and like-minded professionals through a series of Web-based surveys and expert working group meetings. The results may provide a useful starting point for delineating expected competency levels of health professionals in disaster medicine and public health.

Inpatient disposition classification for the creation of hospital surge capacity: a multiphase study

Summary Background The ability to provide medical care during sudden increases in patient volume during a disaster or other high-consequence event is a serious concern for health-care systems. Identification of inpatients for safe early discharge (ie, reverse triage) could create additional hospital surge capacity. We sought to develop a disposition classification system that categorises inpatients according to suitability for immediate discharge on the basis of risk tolerance for a subsequent consequential medical event. Methods We did a warfare analysis laboratory exercise using evidence-based techniques, combined with a consensus process of 39 expert panellists. These panellists were asked to define the categories of a disposition classification system, assign risk tolerance of a consequential medical event to each category, identify critical interventions, and rank each (using a scale of 1–10) according to the likelihood of a resultant consequential medical event if a critical intervention is withdrawn or withheld because of discharge. Findings The panellists unanimously agreed on a five-category disposition classification system. The upper limit of risk tolerance for a consequential medical event in the lowest risk group if discharged early was less than 4%. The next categories had upper limits of risk tolerance of about 12% (IQR 8–15%), 33% (25–50%), 60% (45–80%) and 100% (95–100%), respectively. The expert panellists identified 28 critical interventions with a likelihood of association with a consequential medical event if withdrawn, ranging from 3 to 10 on the 10-point scale. Interpretation The disposition classification system allows conceptual classification of patients for suitable disposition, including those deemed safe for early discharge home during surges in demand. Clinical criteria allowing real-time categorisation of patients are awaited.

Disaster Triage Systems for Large-scale Catastrophic Events

Large-scale catastrophic events typically result in a scarcity of essential medical resources and accordingly necessitate the implementation of triage management policies to minimize preventable morbidity and mortality. Accomplishing this goal requires a reconceptualization of triage as a population-based systemic process that integrates care at all points of interaction between patients and the health care system. This system identifies at minimum 4 orders of contact: first order, the community; second order, prehospital; third order, facility; and fourth order, regional level. Adopting this approach will ensure that disaster response activities will occur in a comprehensive fashion that minimizes the patient care burden at each subsequent order of intervention and reduces the overall need to ration care. The seamless integration of all orders of intervention within this systems-based model of disaster-specific triage, coordinated through health emergency operations centers, can ensure that disaster response measures are undertaken in a manner that is effective, just, and equitable.

The incident command system in disasters: evaluation methods for a hospital-based exercise.

OBJECTIVES No universally accepted methods for objective evaluation of the function of the Incident Command System (ICS) in disaster exercises currently exist. An ICS evaluation method for disaster simulations was derived and piloted. METHODS A comprehensive variable list for ICS function was created and four distinct ICS evaluation methods (quantitative and qualitative) were derived and piloted prospectively during an exercise. Delay times for key provider-victim interactions were recorded through a system of data collection using participant- and observer-based instruments. Two different post-exercise surveys (commanders, other participants) were used to assess knowledge and perceptions of assigned roles, organization, and communications. Direct observation by trained observers and a structured debriefing session also were employed. RESULTS A total of 45 volunteers participated in the exercise that included 20 mock victims. First, mean, and last victim delay times (from exercise initiation) were 2.1, 4.0, and 9.3 minutes (min) until triage, and 5.2, 11.9, and 22.0 min for scene evacuation, respectively. First, mean, and last victim delay times to definitive treatment were 6.0, 14.5, and 25.0 min. Mean time to triage (and range) for scene Zones I (nearest entrance), II (intermediate) and III (ground zero) were 2.9 (2.0-4.0), 4.1 (3.0-5.0) and 5.2 (3.0-9.0) min, respectively. The lowest acuity level (Green) victims had the shortest mean times for triage (3.5 min), evacuation (4.0 min), and treatment (10.0 min) while the highest acuity level (Red) victims had the longest mean times for all measures; patterns consistent with independent rather than ICS-directed rescuer activities. Specific ICS problem areas were identified. CONCLUSIONS A structured, objective, quantitative evaluation of ICS function can identify deficiencies that can become the focus for subsequent improvement efforts.

Definition and Functions of Health Unified Command and Emergency Operations Centers for Large-scale Bioevent Disasters Within the Existing ICS

The incident command system provides an organizational structure at the agency, discipline, or jurisdiction level for effectively coordinating response and recovery efforts during most conventional disasters. This structure does not have the capacity or capability to manage the complexities of a large-scale health-related disaster, especially a pandemic, in which unprecedented decisions at every level (eg, surveillance, triage protocols, surge capacity, isolation, quarantine, health care staffing, deployment) are necessary to investigate, control, and prevent transmission of disease. Emerging concepts supporting a unified decision-making, coordination, and resource management system through a health-specific emergency operations center are addressed and the potential structure, function, roles, and responsibilities are described, including comparisons across countries with similar incident command systems.

Using Innovative Simulation Modalities for Civilian-Based, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Training in the Acute Management of Terrorist Victims: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) incidents are low frequency, high impact events that require specialized training outside of usual clinical practice. Educational modalities must recreate these clinical scenarios in order to provide realistic first responder/receiver training. METHODS High fidelity, mannequin-based (HFMB) simulation and video clinical vignettes were used to create a simulation-based CBRNE course directed at the recognition, triage, and resuscitation of contaminated victims. The course participants, who consisted of first responders and receivers, were evaluated using a 43-question pre- and post-test that employed 12 video clinical vignettes as scenarios for the test questions. The results of the pre-test were analyzed according to the various medical training backgrounds of the participants to identify differences in baseline performance. A Scheffe post-hoc test and an ANOVA were used to determine differences between the medical training backgrounds of the participants. For those participants who completed both the pre-course and post-course test, the results were compared using a paired Students t-test. RESULTS A total of 54 first responders/receivers including physicians, nurses, and paramedics completed the course. Pre-course and post-course test results are listed by learner category. For all participants who took the pre-course test (n = 67), the mean value of the test scores was 53.5 +/- 12.7%. For all participants who took the post-course test (n = 54), the mean value of the test scores was 78.3 +/-10.9%. The change in score for those who took both the pre- and post-test (n = 54) achieved statistical significance at all levels of learner. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that video clinical vignettes and HFMB simulation are effective methods of CBRNE training and evaluation. Future studies should be conducted to determine the educational and cost-effectiveness of the use of these modalities.

The Myths of Disaster Education

Sign-out somewhere in the United States in an emergency department (ED) today: ‘‘.so that’s the last of the acute rack. And, yeah, there are 17 boarders waiting for beds, the usual. ’’ In this issue of Annals, Auf der Heide thoroughly debunks numerous myths of disaster response and management. As many of us know firsthand, in a major disaster, including a terrorist attack, many patients may show up in our EDs with no warning, apparently randomly, and without field care. In response, our government, society, and we ourselves have undertaken strenuous efforts to ‘‘be prepared’’ for the next ‘‘big one,’’ usually described as a huge mass casualty event involving weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear, biological, or chemical agents. Millions of dollars have been spent to develop training ‘‘courses’’ for nurses, physicians, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. Unfortunately, with all of this effort and money spent, it is not clear that we have achieved an appropriate benefit in disaster readiness. I would like to review here what I call the 5 ‘‘myths of disaster education’’ and see how our nation’s response stacks up to them.