DEPARTMENTAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS
MEDICAL SERVICES DIVISION
Functions:
1.
Coordinates the formulation
of a medical staff disaster plan to assure medical service to meet disaster situations and to implement the plan.
2.
Integrates the plan with
the hospital disaster preparedness plan.
3.
Assigns physicians to
triage and treatment areas.
4.
Takes steps to clear the
hospital of all ambulatory patients to expand the facilities for more serious
patients.
5.
Establishes standard
emergency care procedures for the hospital.
6.
Assists in the training
of nurses, nursing aides, and other hospital personnel in the handling of mass
casualties.
NURSING SERVICES DIVISION
Functions:
1.
Develops a disaster
preparedness plan for the nursing areas of the hospital.
2.
Assigns nursing
personnel to triage and treatment areas on the basis of skills and experience.
3.
Maintains an emergency
list of nursing personnel to be called in the event of a disaster plan
activation.
INFORMATION AND TELEPHONE
SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Receives any information
on disasters accurately.
2.
Informs authorities
concerned promptly.
3.
Sounds the alarm.
4.
Activates the medical
staff and personnel recall system.
5.
Contacts fire
department, police department, and other hospitals for assistance.
ADMITTING SERVICE AND MEDICAL RECORDS SECTION
Functions:
1.
Makes a record of all
patients admitted to the triage areas and treatment areas.
2.
Makes a record of all
patients transferred to other hospitals.
3.
Makes a record of all
patients admitted to and discharged from the hospital.
4.
Maintains a list of
available beds in the hospital.
5.
Makes room assignment to
patients.
6.
Assists in receiving
patients' valuables and belongings and stores them for safekeeping.
SECURITY SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Controls both internal
and external traffic.
2.
Provides security to the
area and to the hospital personnel.
3.
Prevents looting.
4.
Safeguards evacuated
records and utilities.
FACILITY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
Functions:
In an external disaster
situation, the maintenance department personnel will standby to provide all
utilities needed and to be assigned to any area where assistance is required.
In an internal disaster
situation, the maintenance department will assume the role of the hospital fire and explosion brigade. The department head shall be the
fire and explosion
marshall or simply fire marshall.
Functions of the fire
marshall:
1.
Appoints a fire brigade.
2.
Establishes and
coordinates a fire safety program for the hospital.
3.
Trains hospital
personnel in internal disaster procedures.
4.
Orients new personnel on
the fire safety program.
5.
Conducts and evaluates
fire drills.
6.
Assists in drawing up a fire
safety program in each department or floor.
7.
Conducts fire prevention
inspections in the hospital.
Functions of the fire
brigade:
1.
Responds to the fire
alarm immediately.
2.
Controls fire as quickly
as possible.
3.
Assists the city fire
brigades upon their arrival.
4.
Searches for explosives
and bombs when such threats exist.
5.
Assists in the
evacuation of victims and patients.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION
Functions:
1.
Assists in the
evacuation of victims and patients.
2.
Assists in the transport
of victims and patients from one area to another in the hospital.
3.
Serves as messengers.
RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Functions:
1.
Carries out all orders
for X-rays on a priority basis.
2.
Cancels all other
routine activities except urgent requests.
3.
Checks supplies as to
their sufficiency to meet the needs of the disaster situation.
LABORATORY MEDICINE DEPARTMENT
Functions:
1.
Responsible for
processing all laboratory works immediately.
2.
Establishes blood supply
priorities.
3.
Contacts possible donors
and makes arrangements for procuring additional blood from other sources.
4.
Hands over the dead
bodies to the families of the victims or other authorized persons.
PHARMACY SERVICES
Functions:
1.
Maintains a contingency
inventory of pharmaceuticals at all times.
2.
Makes necessary
arrangements for increasing the inventory by 20 per cent.
3.
Assigns supply procedure
to treatment areas and operating room and distributes drugs.
4.
Maintains a record of
the supplies so distributed.
CENTRAL SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Maintains disaster
supply carts and boxes containing basic supply items for the Minor and Major
treatment areas.
2.
Checks, repacks, and
sterilizes these supplies periodically.
3.
Maintains a list of
supplies and equipments needed in a disaster.
4.
Distributes supplies to
all needed areas.
5.
Sterilizes additional
supplies while the disaster lasts.
6.
Purchases and makes
arrangements for delivery of urgently needed supplies.
DIETARY SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Maintains a stock of
additional supply that can be utilized in disaster times.
2.
Provides stimulating
beverages to victims.
3.
Provides meal service to
the patients, hospital personnel, and all other people who are assisting in the
disaster.
4.
Uses simple menus and
disposable items for food service.
5.
Arranges for alternative
source of fuel, water, and cooking procedures.
HOUSEKEEPING SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Sets up accommodation in
all additional areas, depending on the size of the disaster.
2.
Assists in evacuation of
patients.
3.
Serves as messengers.
4.
Assists security guards
in traffic control.
5.
Assists security guards
in safequarding evacuated utilities and records.
LINEN SERVICE
Functions:
1.
Maintains a reserve
capable of handling the initial needs of 25 patients.
2.
If the size and scope of
the disaster warrants, the department head puts the laundry in full operation.
1.
Issues additional linen
from stocks (when reserve is depleted).
PASTORAL CARE SERVICE
Functions:
On receipt of the
disaster plan activation news, the pastoral care team should report to the triage
and treatment areas to aid and assist the victims and their relatives. Supportive services offered would reduce the
pressure exerted on the physicians and nurses.