Background: Any healthcare facility must be prepared to handle a dramatic increase in deaths that can be produced by a catastrophic disaster. A mass fatality incident (MFI) will significantly increase the usual number...Background: Any healthcare facility must be prepared to handle a dramatic increase in deaths that can be produced by a catastrophic disaster. A mass fatality incident (MFI) will significantly increase the usual number of deaths that hospitals or forensic science services can manage on a daily basis. A survey was conducted to assess the hospital emergency department level of preparedness to deal with an MFI. Objective: To examine healthcare facilities level of preparedness for an MFI and morgue capacity. Methods: A total of 39 out of a sample of 44 hospitals participated in the study. Seven questionnaires were administered to explore: hospital general characteristics;emergency plans;equipment and infrastructure;collaborative agreements;personnel trainings;emergency communications;laboratory facilities;treatment protocols;security;and, epidemiologic surveillance. Results: Three-fourths (79.5%) of the healthcare facilities reported having a morgue, their average storage capacity was of three bodies. More than two-thirds (66.7%) of the institutions stated that they could not increase their morgue’s capacity. Most installations without a morgue do not possess an agreement with any other institution for the management of bodies. Hospitals have a very limited number of body bags utilized for the handling and transport of bodies. Conclusion: Most of healthcare facilities have morgues, but there are limitations with the current capacity and the lack of resources to increase their capacity in case of a disaster. Management of an MFI must be part of every hospital’s emergency plan, and must include collaborative agreements with forensic authorities, emergency management and public health agencies, and the community.展开更多
德国一位72岁的老妇人尚未咽气,就被送入morgue(太平间;停尸房),令人惊骇不已！文中的一句话委婉地道出了此人间悲剧的背景:The colorof her skin led the doctor to declare her dead and send her to the morgue。呜呼！当现代医学认...德国一位72岁的老妇人尚未咽气,就被送入morgue(太平间;停尸房),令人惊骇不已！文中的一句话委婉地道出了此人间悲剧的背景:The colorof her skin led the doctor to declare her dead and send her to the morgue。呜呼！当现代医学认为,心脏的暂时停止跳动尚不能断定人的正式死亡时,竟然有人以人的肤色来断定人之死活！】展开更多
文摘Background: Any healthcare facility must be prepared to handle a dramatic increase in deaths that can be produced by a catastrophic disaster. A mass fatality incident (MFI) will significantly increase the usual number of deaths that hospitals or forensic science services can manage on a daily basis. A survey was conducted to assess the hospital emergency department level of preparedness to deal with an MFI. Objective: To examine healthcare facilities level of preparedness for an MFI and morgue capacity. Methods: A total of 39 out of a sample of 44 hospitals participated in the study. Seven questionnaires were administered to explore: hospital general characteristics;emergency plans;equipment and infrastructure;collaborative agreements;personnel trainings;emergency communications;laboratory facilities;treatment protocols;security;and, epidemiologic surveillance. Results: Three-fourths (79.5%) of the healthcare facilities reported having a morgue, their average storage capacity was of three bodies. More than two-thirds (66.7%) of the institutions stated that they could not increase their morgue’s capacity. Most installations without a morgue do not possess an agreement with any other institution for the management of bodies. Hospitals have a very limited number of body bags utilized for the handling and transport of bodies. Conclusion: Most of healthcare facilities have morgues, but there are limitations with the current capacity and the lack of resources to increase their capacity in case of a disaster. Management of an MFI must be part of every hospital’s emergency plan, and must include collaborative agreements with forensic authorities, emergency management and public health agencies, and the community.
文摘德国一位72岁的老妇人尚未咽气,就被送入morgue(太平间;停尸房),令人惊骇不已！文中的一句话委婉地道出了此人间悲剧的背景:The colorof her skin led the doctor to declare her dead and send her to the morgue。呜呼！当现代医学认为,心脏的暂时停止跳动尚不能断定人的正式死亡时,竟然有人以人的肤色来断定人之死活！】
