The Center for Biosecurity at UPMC recently released a Preparedness Report that proposes the following key elements of a national strategy for healthcare preparedness and response:
- Definition and vision of a U.S. healthcare system prepared to handle the response to a spectrum of mass casualty events that vary in size and severity from common medical disasters (eg, a bus crash or tornado), to catastrophic health events (eg, a nuclear detonation) that would seriously injure or sicken tens of thousands of people or more.
- Recommendations and actions that will lead to a healthcare system capable of responding to the full spectrum of mass casualty events, including CHEs.
There are clear implications for hospital security directors, emergency managers, and those who advise hospitals on security and emergency management.