Administrative approach to disaster preparedness in the pharmacy.
Disaster planning for a hospital pharmacy department is discussed. During a crisis, the type of behavior exhibited by hospital personnel and the community can be used to predict the situation's severity and to prepare a response. During disasters, it is important to focus on accomplishing tasks by defining employees' roles, establishing chains of communication, delegating authority to competent persons, limiting decision-making by persons other than those in command and defining the boundaries of pharmacy's involvement in the disaster. A case study of pharmacy operations during a crisis is presented, with guidelines for assessing the situation, establishing priorities, identifying resources and executing a response. Hospital pharmacy administrators must display a high degree of creativeness and responsibility during disasters, but training in the principles of disaster management can be helpful.
D001519:Behavior; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D004189:Disaster Planning; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013315:Stress, Psychological