National survey of institutional pediatric disaster preparedness

Authors

  • Timothy M. Ketterhagen, MD
  • Deanna L. Dahl-Grove, MD
  • Michele R. McKee, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2018.0296

Keywords:

pediatric disaster preparedness, disasters, emergency management, disaster exercises, disaster planning

Abstract

Objective: Describe institutional disaster preparations focusing upon the strategies to address pediatric patients in disaster preparedness.

Design: Descriptive study using survey methodology.

Setting: Hospitals that provide emergency care to pediatric patients throughout the United States.

Participants: Survey responses were solicited from hospital personnel that are familiar with the disaster preparedness plan at their institution.

Interventions: None.

Main outcome measures: Describe how pediatric patients are included in institutional disaster preparedness plans. The presence of a pediatric-specific lead, policies and procedures, and geographic/demographic patterns are also a focus.

Results: The survey was distributed to 120 hospitals throughout the United States and responses were received from 29 states. Overall response rate was 58 percent, with 53 percent of the surveys fully completed. Sixty-three percent of hospitals had an individual responsible for pediatric-specific disaster planning and 78 percent specifically addressed the care of pediatric patients (<16 yo) in their disaster plan. The hospitals with an individual designated for pediatric disaster planning were more likely to have a disaster plan that specifically addresses the care of pediatric patients (90 percent vs 56 percent; p = 0.015), to represent children with special healthcare needs as simulated patients in disaster exercises (73 percent vs 22 percent; p = 0.003), and to include pediatric decontamination procedures in disaster exercises (78 percent vs 35 percent; p = 0.008) than hospitals without a designated pediatric disaster planner.

Conclusion: The majority of hospitals surveyed incorporate pediatric patients into their disaster preparedness plan. Those hospitals with an individual designated for pediatric disaster planning were more likely to specifically address the care of pediatric patients in their institutional disaster plan.

Author Biographies

Timothy M. Ketterhagen, MD

Fellow of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine, The University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

Deanna L. Dahl-Grove, MD

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine, UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio

Michele R. McKee, MD

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine, The University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

References

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP): The Federal EMSC Program Initiative. Available at https://www.acep.org/administration/ems-resources/the-federal-emsc-program-initiative/#sm.000014javc9yn6dlcqkcqyygmhmch. Accessed December 11, 2017.

EIIC: Emergency Medical Services for Children, Innovation and Improvement Center: About. Available at https://emscimprovement.center/about/. Accessed December 11, 2017.

Institute of Medicine, Board on Health Care Services, Committee on the Future of Emergency Care in the United States Health System: Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press: OpenBook, 2007. Available at https://www.nap.edu/read/11655/chapter/8#227. Accessed December 11, 2017.

American Academy of Pediatrics: Scott Needle. Available at https://www.aap.org/en-us/Pages/Scott-Needle.aspx. Accessed December 11, 2017.

US Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security Grant Program Supplemental Resource: Children in Disasters Guidance. Fiscal Year 2014. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security, March 29, 2014.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations: Standing Together: An Emergency Planning Guide for America’s Communities. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2005.

United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts: United States. 2017. Available at http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/00. Accessed February 9, 2018.

Gausche-Hill M, Ely M, Schmuhl P, et al.: A national assessment of pediatric readiness of emergency departments. JAMA Pediatr. 2015; 169(6): 527-534. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.138.

Martin S, Bush AC, Lynch JA: A national survey of terrorism preparedness training among pediatric, family practice and medicine programs. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(3): e620-6. doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1875.

Gardner AH, FitzGerald MR, Schwartz HP, et al.: Evaluation of regional hospitals’ use of children in disaster drills. Am J Disaster Med. 2013; 8(2): 137-143. doi:10.5055/ajdm.2013.0120.

Harris PA, Taylor R, Thielke R, et al.: Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. J Biomed Inform. 2009; 42(2): 377-381.

StataCorp: Stata Statistical Software: Release 14. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP, 2015.

Institute of Medicine, Committee on the Future of Emergency Care for Children in the United States Health System: Emergency Medical Services: At the Crossroads. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007. Available at https://doi.org/10.17226/11629. Accessed December 11, 2017.

Monteiro S, Shannon M, Sandora TJ, et al.: Pediatric aspects of hospital preparedness. Clin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2009; 10(3): 216-228. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2009.06.001.

Brandenburg MA, Watkins SM, Brandenburg KL, et al.: Operation child-ID: Reunifying children with their legal guardians after Hurricane Katrina. Disasters. 2007; 31(3): 277-287. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.2007.01009.x.

Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children: Addressing the Needs of Children in Disaster Preparedness Exercises. 2nd ed. Maywood, IL: Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children, September 2016: 11.

Niska RW, Shimizu IM: Hospital preparedness for emergency response: United States, 2008. Natl Health Stat Report. 2011; (37): 1-14.

Lyle KC, Milton J, Fagbuyi D, et al.: Pediatric disaster preparedness and response and the nation’s children’s hospitals. Am J Disaster Med. 2015; 10(2): 83-91. doi:10.5055/ajdm.2015.0193.

Published

07/01/2018

How to Cite

Ketterhagen, MD, T. M., D. L. Dahl-Grove, MD, and M. R. McKee, MD. “National Survey of Institutional Pediatric Disaster Preparedness”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 13, no. 3, July 2018, pp. 153-60, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2018.0296.

Issue

Section

Articles