title: Staffing up helps EDs handle Katrina surge.
abstract: If a nearby facility is anticipating a disaster, don't wait until it hits to prepare to receive its patients. Put all of your physicians on call, and schedule them for additional shifts. Determine the conditions you most likely will treat, and pre-order medication and supplies accordingly. Encourage your community to create a central communications center to coordinate all hospital transfers.
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010360:Patient Transfer; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D013781:Texas; D000078329:Workforce