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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

David S. Markenson, MD, Center for Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College, School of Public Health, SPH Bldg. 3rd Floor, Valhalla, NY 10595, 914-594-4909, david_markenson@nymc.edu and Irwin Redlener, MD, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032.

A cadre of experts and stakeholders from government agencies, professional organizations, emergency medicine, pediatrics, mental health, and disaster preparedness were gathered to review and summarize the existing data on the needs of two vulnerable populations, children and persons with disabilities, in the planning, preparation, and response to disasters, public health emergencies and terrorism. This review was followed by development of evidence-based consensus guidelines and recommendations. An evidence-based consensus process was used in conjunction with a modified Delphi approach for selection of topic areas and discussion points. These recommendations and guidelines represent the first national, evidence-based standards for emergency preparedness for these two vulnerable populations. There were several goals of this process:

• Build collaboration among individuals with expertise in pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric critical care, pediatric surgery, and emergency management (including disaster planning, management, and response) and collaboration among individuals with expertise in person with disabilities and emergency management.

• Review and summarize the existing data on the needs of these two vulnerable populations in emergency planning, preparation, and response.

• Develop evidence-based guidelines and recommendations and evidenced-based consensus guidelines for dealing with gaps in the evidence on the needs of these two vulnerable populations.

• Create a research agenda to address knowledge gaps based on the limited data that exist on the needs of these two populations.

The final recommendations developed focused on eight major areas:

1. Emergency and prehospital care 2. Hospital care 3. Terrorism preparedness and response including CBRNE incidents 4. Community, Family and Individual Preparedness

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Articulate evidence-based standards and best-practices for emergency preparedness of children and those with disabilities.
• Discuss the best-practices associated with the delivery of emergency and disaster health services to special and vulnerable populations.
• Identify specific best-practices to adopt at a local level to enhance the preparedness efforts for children and special populations.
• Describe the process of developing National consensus guidelines for the emergency preparedness of children, and other special and unique populations.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Special Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation