The role of emergency medical planning in disaster response

Abstract

This paper addresses the importance of emergency medical planning in disaster response and highlights the need for cooperation among community, governmental and private organisations. Research on emergency medical disaster planning will provide a framework for community leaders, elected officials and healthcare providers to analyse data to support evidence-based decision making in natural disasters or terrorist incidents. Such decisions increase the effectiveness of the disaster response system, thereby safeguarding the population and the community infrastructure. This study found that approximately 79% of rural communities in the USA have hospital emergency rooms with medical disaster response capabilities. Unfortunately, the data demonstrate that 21% of rural communities lack emergency rooms, which are important disaster medical response resources. As a result, rural populations could be at risk during disasters. It also emphasises the importance of building partnerships among local, state and national organisations to ensure a timely medical response to disasters.