Conscious of our responsibility to have a preparedness to meet the needs of the patients and the community in disaster situations, we are committed to the development of a disaster preparedness program at the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH). We endeavor to implement it in a concerted effort of all concerned and in cooperation with all emergency organizations.

Objectives

The primary objective is to avoid disasters within the hospital as much as possible.

The secondary objective is to prepare the hospital personnel and organizational resources for optimal performance during times of disaster. The aims are to prevent death and injuries to patients and hospital personnel; to avoid destruction to hospital properties; and to render medical services to the largest possible number of patients during a disaster.

The tertiary objective is to make the hospital personnel and the community aware of the importance of the disaster preparedness plan, how it is executed, and the benefits it provides.

Scope of MDH Disaster Preparedness Plan

A. General Disaster Control Flow Chart

B. External Disaster Preparedness Plan

C. Internal Disaster Preparedness Plan

D. Response Teams' Disaster Preparedness Plan

Definition and Types of Disaster Faced by a Hospital

Disaster is any event that overwhelms the person or a group of persons facing it. The overwhelming can be in terms of psychosocial impact, destruction of property, injuries to or diseases of human beings, and scarcity of resources.

Any event that is of a magnitude that overwhelms the administration of the hospital is a disaster in the hospital.

Definition and Types of Disaster Faced by a Department in a Hospital

Any event that is of a magnitude that overwhelms the administration of the department is a disaster in the department.

Triage and Color Tagging

Black – for non-salvageable patients

Green – for primary care patients or classified as priority three

Yellow – for acute care patients or classified as priority two

Red – for critical care patients or classified as priority one

Disaster Response Teams

Depending on the type and extent of disaster, the following disaster response teams and codes are established as part of a disaster preparedness plan:

Code Blue – CPR (Cardiopulmonary Arrest) Team

Code Baby Blue – CPR Team (Pedia)

Code White– Medical Staff

Code Red – Facility Team

Code Tango – Security Team

Forms

Patients’ Log

Checklists

Checklist on essential steps in disaster control and management

Essential steps	Yes	No	Remarks
Declaration of disaster
Creation of an incident command
Notification of Disaster Control Officer
Chair, Disaster Preparedness Committee
Hospital Director
Concerned Division and Department Heads
Mobilization and organization (task assignment and authorization) of staff
Mobilization of ancillary services (laboratory, x-ray, pharmacy, etc)
Control of disaster Triage
Treatment
Referrals / Transport
Traffic control
Patient log
Relatives Information Area
Press conference
Decongestion and post-disaster reconstruction
Post-disaster evaluation and reporting

Evaluation of MDH Disaster Preparedness Program

	2005	2006	2007	2008
There is a written hospital disaster preparedness plan (hdpp).	Yes
There are written department disaster preparedness plans (ddpp).	None yet
There is a structured hdpp and ddpp with ddpp cascaded from and integrated into hdpp.	Yes
The hdpp is disseminated to all heads of units and to least 80% of the hospital personnel.	Yes
The ddpp is disseminated to at least 80% of the department personnel.	None yet
The hdpp is being used in real disasters or simulated disasters (at least once a year).	Yes
The ddpp is being used in real disasters or simulated disasters (at least once a year).	None yet
The hdpp and ddpp are being evaluated at least after each real disaster and updated thereafter (at least once every 2 years).	Yes

Reports on Real Disasters Starting 2005

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

FORMAT in Making a Report on a Disaster