Disaster coordination and management: summary and action plans.
BACKGROUND
Disaster is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated response from all parts of society. This theme focused on coordination and management issues in a diverse range of scenarios.


METHODS
Details of the methods used are provided in the preceding paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. Although the main points developed in Themes 1 and 4 were different from each other (as reported in the Results section), their implementation was similar. Therefore, the chairs of both groups presided over one workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates.


RESULTS
The main points developed during the presentations and discussions included: (1) the need for evidence-based assessments and planning, (2) the need for a shift in focus to health-sector readiness, (3) empowerment of survivors, (4) provision of relief for the caregivers, (5) address the incentives and disincentives to attain readiness, (6) engage in joint preparation, response, and training, (7) focus on prevention and mitigation of the damage from events, and (8) improve media relations. There exists a need for institutionalization of processes for learning from experiences obtained from disasters.


CONCLUSIONS
Action plans presented include: (1) creation of an Information and Data Clearinghouse on Disaster Management, (2) identification of incentives and disincentives for readiness and develop strategies and interventions, and (3) act on lessons learned from evidence-based research and practical experience.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an urgent need to proactively establish coordination and management procedures in advance of any crisis. A number of important insights for improvement in coordination and management during disasters emerged.
Eyre
A
A
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, USA.
Fertel
N
N
Fisher
J M
JM
Gunn
S W
SW
Hampton
D
D
Lederman
B
B
Posner
Z
Z
Preobrajensky
V N
VN
Rebonato
M
M
Riboni
V
V
Rodriguez
D
D
Shih
C L
CL
Yamamoto
Y
Y
D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008402:Mass Media; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D011641:Public Relations; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017741:Survivors