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