Prehospital and disaster medicine
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Prehosp Disaster Med · May 2005
Hospital bed surge capacity in the event of a mass-casualty incident.
Traditional strategies to determine hospital bed surge capacity have relied on cross-sectional hospital census data, which underestimate the true surge capacity in the event of a mass-casualty incident. ⋯ A large proportion of in-patients can be discharged within 24 and 72 hours in the event of a mass-casualty incident (MCI). Additional beds can be made available if an on-site nursing facility is made available. Both physicians and nurse managers should be included on the team that makes patient dispositions in the event of a MCI.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · May 2005
Comparative StudyForecasting medical work at mass-gathering events: predictive model versus retrospective review.
Mass-gathering events are dynamic and challenge traditional medical management systems. To improve the system for the provision of first aid at mass-gathering events, an evaluation of two models that assist in forecasting the number of patients presenting for first-aid services was conducted. ⋯ The Arbon method is particularly useful for events where there is no or limited information about previous medical work. Retrospective review of data generated from specific events (Zeitz method) considers the unique and individual variability that can occur from event to event and is more accurate at predicting patient presentations when the data are available. Both methods have the potential to be used more frequently to adequately and efficiently plan for the resources required for specific events.
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The purpose of this study was to ascertain information about emergency medical technicians' (EMTs') attitudes towards their training, comfort, and roles when a patient dies on-scene. ⋯ This study provides new insights about EMTs' attitudes towards death and the death-related training they receive.