Unfortunately, hospitals are often underprepared for large-scale emergencies-whether due to lack of funding or lack of expertise. Although planning for these what-ifs can take a backseat to day-to-day operations, having an adequate emergency management plan is a crucial factor in patient outcomes.
The field of emergency management is constantly changing. The dynamic nature of threats and resources means the appropriate response to emergencies regularly varies. Having a management plan in place for all phases and types of disasters is important-and is now legally required by the Joint Commission. This comprehensive manual lays out an approach for each component of planning-spanning roles from administration to security personnel and beyond. With careful study, each hospital can conduct a vulnerability analysis as the first step in creating an effective response plan.
While the likeliness of a serious disaster may seem small, can we afford not to be ready? Whether the issue is internal, like electrical failure, or external, like extreme weather, many lives will depend on a local hospital's efficient reaction.
Author Robert J. Muller, MD, CEM-a FEMA Level III incident commander-offers in this guide the gold mine of his forty-five years of expertise in emergency management.
About the Author: Robert J. Muller, MD, CEM, witnessed the importance of an effective emergency management plan firsthand during Hurricane Katrina, when he coordinated hospital evacuation and patient redistribution from New Orleans as the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals designated regional coordinator. He has also served as medical director for numerous fire departments.
While completing his Certified Emergency Management credentials, Muller took over ninety certificate courses in emergency preparedness. He is a certified FEMA Level III incident commander. He is also a certified forensic physician and holds multiple search-and-rescue certifications, including as an instructor in the Incident Command System (ICS) used by all fire and law-enforcement agencies internationally.
Muller has taught many classes and seminars at fire and police academies at both local and federal levels. His expertise is based on forty-five years of experience in the emergency management field. Currently, Muller runs his own consulting corporation.
