| July, 2006, many awoke this morning to the news | | | | territorialism among medical specialties. Since 9/11, |
| of a major Counter terrorism success. | | | | every specialty has sought to proclaim itself the |
| Conspirators in London were arrested for alleged | | | | "Masters of Disaster". They fail to realize that |
| participation in an apparent plot to blow-up an | | | | most of the healthcare delivered after a disaster |
| unknown number of American aircraft at an | | | | is simply the daily practice of medicine in more |
| uncertain date in the not too distant future, | | | | austere of conditions. They also fail to understand |
| perhaps even on the anniversary of September | | | | that the majority of disaster medicine is practiced |
| 11th. | | | | before disaster ever strikes. Disaster Medicine |
| My short introduction points up the very nature | | | | specialists are essential to the integration of |
| of terrorism and disaster preparedness. "Alleged | | | | healthcare into the community disaster response, |
| participation" and "apparent plot" juxtaposed to | | | | and the elimination of profession-specific silos of |
| phrases like "unknown number," "uncertain date," | | | | authority and knowledge. |
| not too distant," and "perhaps" emphasis the | | | | What these other specialties fail to see is that in |
| uncertainty of the information on which we must | | | | the planning, preparation, response and recovery |
| act and the need for vigilance and preparedness. | | | | from disaster, the healthcare community must be |
| Six short weeks ago, the National Academies of | | | | a seamless team, not a collection of egocentric |
| Science here in the United States published 3 | | | | individuals. Rather than embracing the concept of |
| reports which pointed out just how unprepared | | | | board certification in the new specialty of Disaster |
| America's hospitals and healthcare industry is to | | | | Medicine, these territorial and fractious groups |
| deal with the type of mass carnage thwarted | | | | seek to stake their claim in this most critical part |
| today or the catastrophe that was hurricane | | | | of our brave new world. In short, they have |
| Katrina. | | | | learned nothing over the last five years. |
| I am among that group of disaster response | | | | There is encouraging news. Disaster Life support |
| experts who lost colleagues and family when the | | | | (DLS) has become the de facto national standard |
| towers fell. It is infuriating to know that five years | | | | for disaster preparedness of individuals, families, |
| later we who prepare the nation must still argue | | | | businesses and healthcare professionals and |
| with corporations and healthcare institutions | | | | Healthcare First Responder training (HFR) has |
| before they take responsibility for their part in our | | | | become the ruler by which hospitals and other |
| nation's safety, security, and preparedness. Those | | | | healthcare institutions are measured. It is |
| who teach these most critical skills remind our | | | | immensely rewarding when participants "catch the |
| students that the goal is not to pass a test or | | | | bug" and understand how important it is to be |
| gain career advancement. The goal is to go home | | | | prepared to protect themselves, their families, |
| alive at the end of the day. | | | | their communities, and their patients. Much like the |
| On those occasions when corporations and | | | | early days of CPR, it will take time for the nation |
| healthcare institutions bring in "the experts," it is | | | | to understand the importance of every man, |
| discouraging to see the room more than half | | | | woman and child knowing what to do when the |
| empty. In a nation whose businesses pride | | | | wind blows, the buildings falls or the whole planet |
| themselves on customer care, to see so few | | | | sneezes at once. Until then, those who teach |
| people interested in preserving the nation's safety | | | | these most precious skills will continue to strive to |
| is demoralizing beyond words. | | | | ensure that everyone goes home at the end of |
| Equally disturbing is the recent trend towards | | | | the day. |