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NYC Healthcare Preparedness for Radiological Casualties: Addressing Training and Detection Gaps

NYC Healthcare Preparedness for Radiological Casualties: Addressing Training and Detection Gaps. Katherine Uraneck, MD Sr. Medical Coordinator Healthcare Readiness Unit Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Identifying the Gaps.

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NYC Healthcare Preparedness for Radiological Casualties: Addressing Training and Detection Gaps

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  1. NYC Healthcare Preparedness for Radiological Casualties: Addressing Training and Detection Gaps Katherine Uraneck, MD Sr. Medical Coordinator Healthcare Readiness Unit Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

  2. Identifying the Gaps • 2004-2005 Conducted site visits to 40/69 NYC Hospitals • Less than 17% of NYC hospitals were had equipment to detect radiation contamination in emergency department • Only 50% of hospitals had written plan for radiation incidents • No identifiable training for hospital staff on responding to a radiation incident available at that time

  3. NYC Hospital Resources • 65 Hospitals • ~21,000 Staffed Beds, 83% occupied • ~1,700 ICU Beds, 65% occupied • ~230 Pediatric ICU Beds • 71 certified burn beds • 3,300 hospital admissions/day

  4. Lack of Radiation Awareness • Hawaii Study • NYC Healthcare Worker Willingness to Respond Survey

  5. NYC Radiation IncidentPreparedness Projects • Hospital Radiation Response Working Group 2006-2008 • Hospital Radiation Equipment & Training Project 2006- present • EMS Radiation Equipment Project 2006-present • Hospital Radiation Detection Drills 2010

  6. 2 year working group developed NYC specific guidance on hospital response to contaminating radiation incidents Available at: http://www.nyc.gov/health/bhpp NYC Hospital Radiation Response Working Group

  7. NYC Hospital Radiation Detection Project • 52 NYC hospitals currently participating • Equipment distributed: • Personal digital dosimeters, survey meters, and radiation area monitors • Guidance provided on developing a response protocol & plan • Training provided to all hospitals • Conducted drills of 13/52 hospitals during 2010

  8. Radiation Equipment Training • Provided Basic and Advanced training on equipment • Over 500 hospital personnel trained at basic level • Radiation Safety Officers provided with advanced training • All training materials, presentations, handouts, tests, available for download and modification http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/bhpp/bhpp-train-cbrne-rad.shtml

  9. Additional Training Efforts • Radiation Response Symposium for Radiation Safety Officers 2008 and 2009 • Partnered with REAC/TS for medical management training in 2008

  10. Lessons Learned • Hospital and healthcare facilities have limited radiation detection equipment, training or plans, • Focus on staff safety to encourage participation, • Involve Hospital Radiation Safety Officers early,

  11. Lessons Learned • If you put up radiation detection equipment, you will detect radiation – have your own response protocols in place, • Radiation equipment skills are perishable – create easy drills or quick reviews for staff to conduct biannually, and • As training on equipment increases, staff anxiety decreases.

  12. Questions? Contact information: Kate Uraneck, MD kuraneck@health.nyc.gov

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