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Pediatric and Obstetrical Emergency Preparedness Toolkit

A Guideline for Hospitals - Preface

How well we respond to and recover from a disaster is the true test of emergency preparedness planning. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recognizes that the level at which its hospitals are prepared to handle a mass casualty event is a critical part of emergency planning. Throughout the state, hospitals are diverse and often specialize in specific types of patient care. During a mass casualty event, hospitals may be required to treat specific patient care needs for which they may be unfamiliar. To a large degree, care of the newborn, pediatric and obstetric patient is such a specialty.

With this realization of a gap in care, NYSDOH collaborated with many local and state agencies to develop an emergency "tool kit" for hospitals. This "tool kit" is to be used as guidance to hospitals throughout the state to develop their own unique emergency plan. The "tool kit" is especially designed for those hospitals that do not have pediatric intensive care services or obstetrical or newborn services and must prepare for such patients during time of a disaster. It was our intent for the "tool kit" to be simple to use, containing laminated cards for removal and easy reference.

Although this "tool kit" is by no means all comprehensive in the specialty areas of newborn, pediatric and obstetrical care, it is our intention that in regards to planning for these specialty areas, this "tool kit" will greatly reduce the amount of planning and development time spent by each hospital. Our goal is that the "tool kit" will be an asset in the development of each hospital's unique emergency preparedness plan, thus allowing the hospital time to focus on their specific needs and abilities during times of a mass casualty event and ultimately, be capable and prepared to serve their community well.

Purpose

The purpose of this "tool kit" is to provide guidance to hospitals throughout New York State in preparing their own unique emergency disaster plan. It is especially useful to the hospitals that do not routinely care for pediatric, new born or obstetrical patients. The tool kit provides an outline for roles and actions of hospital personnel, volunteers, families and the community during an emergency and guides hospital emergency planning to ensure the pediatric and obstetrical population will be well cared for during a mass casualty event.

The "tool kit" is not meant to be an all comprehensive document in the specialty care of pediatrics, new born or obstetrics, but rather to be a checklist of ideas and situations the hospital should consider and plan for in the event of an emergency. It discusses strategies of how the medical staff would triage, care for and protect the pediatric patient until such time as the legal guardians were located or proper authorities find safe placement. It discusses the probable need for extra staffing as well as the need for obtaining specialty equipment and nurses with specialty skills. Transportation and security of the patient is discussed along with the need and importance of having a family information and support center.

Along with planning strategies, specific guidelines and practice standards are also provided in the "tool kit". These guidelines and standards pertain to such topics as pharmaceutical needs and dietary considerations as well as guidelines and standards for decontamination and infection control measures. Many of these specific guidelines are on laminated cards which can be removed and posted for easy reference.

In providing guidance, standards and useful, proactive planning strategies for hospitals under one cover, it is our intention that the "tool kit" will greatly reduce the amount of planning and development time spent by hospitals in preparing their own emergency plan. It will assist the hospital to focus on their locally specific needs and abilities so they are able to develop an emergency plan specific and unique to their community.