Pediatric and Obstetric Emergency Preparedness Toolkit

A Guideline for Hospitals - Preface

How well we respond to and recover from a disaster is the true test of emergency preparedness planning. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recognizes that the level at which its hospitals are prepared to handle a mass casualty event is a critical part of emergency planning. Throughout the state, hospitals are diverse and often specialize in specific types of patient care. During a mass casualty event, hospitals may be required to treat specific patient care needs for which they may be unfamiliar. To a large degree, care of the newborn, pediatric and obstetric patient is such a specialty.

With this realization of a gap in care, NYSDOH collaborated with many local and state agencies to develop an emergency 'toolkit' for hospitals. This 'toolkit' is to be used as guidance to hospitals throughout the state to develop their own unique emergency plan. The 'toolkit' is especially designed for those hospitals that do not have pediatric intensive care services or obstetric or newborn services and must prepare for such patients during the time of a disaster. It was our intent for the 'toolkit' to be simple to use, containing laminated cards for removal and easy reference.

Although this 'toolkit' is by no means comprehensive in the specialty areas of newborn, pediatric and obstetric care, it is our intention that in regards to planning for these specialty areas, this 'toolkit' will greatly reduce the amount of disaster plan development time spent by each hospital. Our goal is that the 'toolkit' will be an asset in the development of each hospital's unique emergency preparedness plan, thus allowing the hospital time to focus on its specific needs and abilities during the time of a mass casualty event and, ultimately, be capable and prepared to serve its community well.

Purpose

The purpose of this 'toolkit' is to provide guidance to hospitals throughout New York State in preparing their own unique emergency disaster plan. It is especially useful to the hospitals that do not routinely care for pediatric, newborn or obstetric patients. The 'toolkit' provides an outline for roles and actions of hospital personnel, volunteers, families and the community during an emergency and guides hospital emergency planning to ensure the pediatric and obstetric population will be well cared for during a mass casualty event.

The 'toolkit' is not meant to be a comprehensive document for the specialty areas of pediatrics, newborn care or obstetrics, but rather to be a checklist of ideas and situations the hospital should consider and plan for in the event of an emergency. It discusses strategies of how the medical staff would triage, care for and protect the pediatric patient until the legal guardians were located or proper authorities found safe placement. It discusses the probable need for extra staffing as well as the need for obtaining specialty equipment and nurses with specialty skills. Transportation and security of the patient is discussed along with the need for and importance of having a family information and support center.

Along with planning strategies, specific guidelines and practice standards are also provided in the 'toolkit'. These guidelines and standards pertain to such topics as pharmaceutical needs and dietary considerations as well as guidelines and standards for decontamination and infection control measures. Many of these specific guidelines are on laminated cards, which can be removed and posted for easy reference.

In providing guidance, standards and useful, proactive planning strategies for hospitals under one cover, it is our intention that the 'toolkit' will greatly reduce the amount of disaster plan development time spent by hospitals in preparing their own emergency plan. It will assist the hospital to focus on its locally specific needs and abilities so it is able to develop an emergency plan specific and unique to its community.

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