You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of a major hospital. A bioterrorist at

Question

You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of a major hospital. A bioterrorist attack just occurred in your city. The ICS has been activated. Despite the infusion of this additional money provided by the government after the event of September 11, 2001, to the healthcare industry, in an effort to prepare the industry for a possible bioterrorist attack, some people feel that the healthcare industry in US is still unprepared for a bioterrorist attack. As a CEO, you need to assess the situation and prepare your hospital to deal with the situation. Answer the following questions keeping in mind the above information: Why is the use of an ICS in a hospital important when dealing with a bioterrorist attack? What are the most challenging issues associated with using an ICS in a hospital? Why? As a healthcare administrator, how would you allocate money and why? How prepared do you think the healthcare industry is to handle a bioterrorist attack? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

The use of an ICS in a hospital is important due to their following principles which they abide by :

To find common terminology

Modular organization are flexible

Integrated communications.

Unity of common

Command structure is unified.

Resource management to be comprehensive.

Manageable span of control.

The most challenging issues associated with using an ICS in a hospital are :

To be aware of risks : Biological agents are the most threatened mode of attack. It has got a devastating outcome and so it is important to be aware of the risks.

Maintain a high index of suspicion : The possibility of occurence of bioterrorist attack has to be considered. Early diagnosis can be made if there is an awareness of bioterrorism agent diseases that can also decrease patient mortality.

Knowledge of baseline : In order to identify bioterrorist attack, one needs to be familiar with their area's baseline of disease.An unusual change in patient population may act as a trigger. .

Carefully assess patients : It is important to note down patient's history and symptoms to determine the agent and possible source of exposure.

Protect patients, community : Appropriate prophylaxis are to be provided to symptomatic patients. Assistance in dissemination of prophylaxis to asymptomatic individuals are to be performed.

Partnership with key groups : Recovery from bioterrorism attack requires coordination with many groups in community and nation. Public health, emergency medical services, security, local law enforcement, local FBI office, federal agencies are some of the groups with whom partnerships are to be built .

Flexibility : During massive bioterrorism attack, ICPs are reassigned to different areas to assist in mitigation of the disaster.

To prevent bioterrorism, a list of challenges has to be addressed. Although there is federal funding that has been designated, there are many healthcare legal issues such as, licensing, delegation of authority, standardized regional Mutual Aid Agreements, regulating the transferring of pharmaceuticals supplies, regulating training for healthcare staffs to act during emergencies. Healthcare industry is not that well prepared to handle a bioterrorist attack as after 9/11 attack there was hardly any progress that was noticed in the system.

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