Using Functional Needs and Personal Care Assistance Rather Than Disability Status During Chronic Care Triage in Community Mass Care.

Abstract

To evaluate Medical Reserve Corps volunteers and public health workers in conducting chronic care triage by use of a rubric prior to sheltering to connect survivors with services. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 algorithms or a control group during a simulated disaster scenario and were asked to rate 20 survivors arriving at a chronic care triage station with situation-appropriate transport services. Survivors were simulated on the basis of the expected disability distributions of mobility, sensory-visual, cognition, medical devices, capacity to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), age (18 to 90 years), weight, and gender expected in the general population but expanded to 90% of those presenting. Mean percentage correct scores were assessed by using one-way analysis of variance. Accounting for personal care assistance and service methodology during chronic care triage increased efficiency by up to 8% in meeting chronic care health service needs during disaster community mass care management. A chronic care triage process as part of community mass care management that considers the availability of personal care assistance and service methodology will enhance the allocation of functional needs support services and increase compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements regarding not segregating persons because of disability. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:265-274).