Development of a statewide hospital plan for radiologic emergencies.
Although general guidelines have been developed for triage of victims in the field and for hospitals to plan for a radiologic event, specific information for clinicians and administrators is not available for guidance in efficient management of radiation victims during their early encounter in the hospital. A consensus document was developed by staff members of four Connecticut hospitals, two institutions of higher learning, and the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Office of Emergency Preparedness, with assistance of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. The objective was to write a practical manual for clinicians (including radiation oncologists, emergency room physicians, and nursing staff), hospital administrators, radiation safety officers, and other individuals knowledgeable in radiation monitoring that would be useful for evaluation and management of radiation injury. The rationale for and process by which the radiation response plan was developed and implemented in the State of Connecticut are reviewed. Hospital admission pathways are described, based on classification of victims as exposed, contaminated, and/or physically injured. This manual will be of value to those involved in planning the health care response to a radiologic event.
Dainiak
Nicholas
N
Department of Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA. pndain@bpthosp.org
Delli Carpini
Domenico
D
Bohan
Michael
M
Werdmann
Michael
M
Wilds
Edward
E
Barlow
Agnus
A
Beck
Charles
C
Cheng
David
D
Daly
Nancy
N
Glazer
Peter
P
Mas
Peter
P
Nath
Ravinder
R
Piontek
Gregory
G
Price
Kenneth
K
Albanese
Joseph
J
Roberts
Kenneth
K
Salner
Andrew L
AL
Rockwell
Sara
S
D003237:Connecticut; D003666:Decontamination / Q000592:standards; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D023481:Terrorism; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*