Preparing for disasters, emergencies

“What To Do Before, During, and After An Emergency or Disaster: A Preparedness Toolkit for Office-based Health Care Practices,” is described by Dr. David Glotzer as “the most sophisticated and comprehensive” resource ever developed on the topic.

“This toolkit can provide dentists with what they need to know to serve their patients and the community in times of crisis,” said the co-chair of catastrophic procedures at New York University. Dr. Glotzer co-authored “National Emergency Response Programs for Dental Health Care Professionals,” which was published in the September 2008 Journal of the American Dental Association.

Dr. James Willey, director of the ADA Council on Dental Practice, said he couldn’t agree more with Dr. Glotzer’s assessment. “During the review process, we worked with the authors and the AMA to make sure that the toolkit had a universal application that included the dental office,” said Dr. Willey. “We are quite satisfied with the results.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, funded the toolkit, which was prepared by the American Medical Association Public Health Readiness Office and Columbia University School of Nursing Center for Health Policy. Reviewers included dentists, physicians, nurses and health care system emergency managers.

“We needed everyone on board,” commented Italo Subbarao, D.O. The director of the AMA public health readiness office spoke at the November 2008 council meeting at ADA Headquarters in Chicago. As a participant in the working group that developed the toolkit, Dr. Subbarao noted the emphasis the development process placed on addressing concerns dentists might have.

“We want the strong support of the ADA,” said Dr. Subbarao. “They’re in a unique position in the community. But as health care professionals, we all have a responsibility to society in terms of responding to disasters. The community expects that leadership both in regular times and times of crisis.”

The toolkit outlines details on skills including:

• assessing practice and community vulnerability;
• determining what is needed to maintain business’ continuity;
• creating an emergency preparedness plan for the practice;
• training staff to implement the plan;
• evaluating staff readiness through participation in drills and exercises.

“Recent events have shown all of us just how vulnerable our practices are to the effects of a disaster,” commented Dr. Frank Graham, CDP chair. “That disaster may be as extensive as a massive event like Hurricane Katrina or as localized as a building fire. Having a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan is the best way to minimize any disruption and get your practice up and running again as quickly as possible.”

Slated for availability this spring, the toolkit, comprised of a book and CD-ROM, will cost $35. For more information contact the AMA’s Leigh Adams at 1-312-464-2540.

The National Disaster Life Support Foundation has courses that specifically address the health care profession and its response in a disaster with courses that provide training and insight for an integrated response. For more information, visit www.ndlsf.org .