title: The Rhode Island Medical Emergency Distribution System (MEDS).
abstract: The State of Rhode Island conducted an exercise to obtain and dispense a large volume of emergency medical supplies in response to a mass casualty incident. The exercise was conducted in stages that included requesting supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile and distributing the supplies around the state. The lessons learned included how to better structure an exercise, what types of problems were encountered with requesting and distributing supplies, how to better work with members of the private medical community who are not involved in disaster planning, and how to become aware of the needs of special population groups.
authors.affiliation: Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, 02908, USA. gregoryb@doh.state.ri.us
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banner
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006750:Hospital Distribution Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012237:Rhode Island; D013997:Time Factors