Evidence of the Effectiveness of Health Sector Preparedness in Disaster Response

Abstract

In this article, evidence that health sector preparedness improves response performance in disasters was examined. Case fatality and survival data were compared for four earthquakes, in relation to health sector emergency preparedness levels. Vast differences in performance were found. The two California systems, with a high preparedness index, had low case fatality rates (about one death per 100 injuries). Kobe, Japan, with mixed levels of preparedness, had 31 deaths per 100 injuries, and Armenia (low preparedness index) had 167. Public health and health sector preparedness made a significant difference in the ability to respond effectively to meet patient needs in disasters, although it is only one of several factors that determine the health outcome of disaster victims.

The Impact of Trauma Care Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…was important in determining mortality and disability outcomes among earthquake victims with serious head injuries (106). A comparative modeling study of three countries that had suffered earthquakes (Armenia, Japan, USA) found that differences in disaster preparedness and response were closely correlated with injury mortality and morbidity (19), and a global modeling study suggested that the availability of a pediatric trauma care center could decrease time to care and save lives during a disaster (17).…”

“…Reynolds et al Process (3,5,6,9,12,13,14,15,20,21,46,50,53,54,57,64,67,68,69,71,86,93,103) 23 (32) Clinical or population health outcome (3,4,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,22,23,24,28,29,35,36,41,42,43,45,48,49,53,54,57,59,60,61,64,…”

Integrating epidemiological and engineering approaches in the assessment of human casualties in earthquakes

“…Only one study directly assessed health sector preparedness levels and the association with earthquake-induced mortality. The findings revealed that 'low prepared' regions had five times more fatalities per 100 injuries compared to 'medium prepared' regions and that 'high prepared' regions had 30 times fewer fatalities compared to 'medium prepared' regions (Bissell et al 2004). Other studies found that the mortality rate for severely injured victims was 15-25 % and was usually higher in frontline hospitals and that these rates may decline to 9-3 % or even lower, if proper medical care is not delayed (Pretto et al 1994;Tanaka et al 1998;Fawcett and Oliveira 2000;Jiang et al 2012;Wen et al 2012).…”

“…These criteria used to screen all abstracts included. Eight studies met these criteria and were included in this section (Noji et al 1993;Pretto et al 1994;Tanaka et al 1998;Fawcett and Oliveira 2000;Liang et al 2001;Bissell et al 2004;Jiang et al 2012;Wen et al 2012 studies were included in this section for the purpose of establishing a theoretical framework for the association between medical preparedness and response and the number of casualties in earthquake events (Schultz et al 1996;Peek-Asa et al 1998;Ashkenazi et al 2005;Ramirez and Peek-Asa 2005;Macintyre et al 2006;Bayard 2010;Bartal et al 2011;Haojun et al 2011;Archer et al 2011). Although these studies did not quantitatively measure the association between medical preparedness and response and earthquake casualties, they contributed through establishing the need for evidence-based and theoretically driven modeling.…”

“…Medical preparedness and response is also a factor which is not considered at this time (FEMA 2003). Table 2 summarizes the information in Behavior during an earthquake Roces et al (1992), Armenian et al (1992) Medical preparedness Bissell et al (2004) ? Indicates a factor which is accounted for in the module -Indicates a factor which is not accounted for in the module Nat Hazards (2015Hazards ( ) 78:1447Hazards ( -1462Hazards ( 1457 this section and emphasizes the gaps between the epidemiological and engineering approaches for earthquake-induced casualty estimations.…”