Introduction: The 24-hour operation of medical emergency units involves crucial first-hand information and medical treatments, which could involve potential complications and disputes if not handled with the utmost professionalism. Effective logistical support and timely activation are crucial in mass casualty triage to prevent systematic treatment issues and chaos.
Objective: This study explores the integration of Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) with a service blueprint to mitigate medical risks and enhance mass casualty triage efficiency in emergency units.
Method: An expert team analyzed emergency unit standard operating procedure cases using a service blueprint to visually represent mass casualty triage scenarios. The HFMEA identified potential hazards and failure risks in healthcare service delivery during mass casualty triage.
Results: Fifteen high-risk hazard indexes exceeding the standard score of eight were identified among three main processes and thirty-one potential failure reasons. The initial operational time for mass casualty triage was approximately 104 min, significantly reduced to 34 min after process revision (p = 0.043, <0.05).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates effective time management in mass casualty triage, potentially saving up to an hour. Improved operational efficiency allows for focused resuscitation efforts, alleviating concerns about timely patient flow initiation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2024.101508 | DOI Listing |
BMC Emerg Med
January 2025
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, CNY149, 13th St, Charlestown, 02129, MA, USA.
Background: The use of emergency tourniquets among military personnel has helped to dramatically reduce battlefield deaths and has recently gained popularity in the civilian sector. Yet, even well-trained individuals can find it difficult to assess proper tourniquet application. Emergency tourniquets are typically deemed sufficiently tightened through cursory visual confirmation or pulse assessment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisaster Med Public Health Prep
January 2025
Department of Radiology, Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, Beirut, Lebanon.
Objectives: The catastrophic Beirut blast on August 4, 2020 at 6:07 pm resulted in extensive damage. Our study aims to categorize the injuries of patients who were transferred to the radiology department in the first 12 hours following the blast and to evaluate the disaster preparedness of the radiology department at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital in order to implement corrective action process.
Methods: A total of 97 patients underwent imaging examinations, comprising 77 CT scans and 20 radiographs, which were retrospectively reviewed by 4 senior radiology residents.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
The goal of this analysis is to describe seasonal disaster patterns in Central Europe in order to raise awareness and improve hospital disaster planning and resilience, particularly during peak events. Hospitals are essential pillars of a country's critical infrastructure, vital for sustaining healthcare services and supporting public well-being-a key issue of national security. Disaster planning for hospitals is crucial to ensure their functionality under special circumstances.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEmerg Med J
January 2025
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Introduction: Civilian healthcare workers (HCW) and medical facilities are directly and indirectly impacted by armed conflict. In the Russia-Ukraine war, acute trauma care needs grew, the workforce was destabilised by HCW migrating or shifting roles to meet conflict needs, and facilities faced surge events. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) exposure risks created unique preparedness needs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Radiat Biol
January 2025
Laboratory of Biological Dose Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medicine, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Purpose: Biological dosimetry is an essential analytic method to estimate the absorbed radiation dose in the human body by measuring changes in biomolecules after radiation exposure. Joint response in a network to mass-casualty radiation incidents is one way to overcome the limitations of biological dosimetry, sharing the workload among laboratories. This study aimed to investigate the current performance, collaborative activities and technical advances of the Korea biodosimetry network (K-BioDos), and suggest the future directions toward successful joint response.
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