title: An update on the surgeons scope and depth of practice to all hazards emergency response.
abstract: This article outlines the position of The Eastern Association of the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) in defining the role of surgeons, and specifically trauma/critical care surgeons, in the development of public health initiatives that are designed to react to and deal effectively with acts of terrorism. All aspects of the surgeon's role in response to mass casualty incidents are considered, from prehospital response teams to the postevent debriefing. The role of the surgeon in response to mass casualty incidents (MCIs) is substantial in response to threats and injury from natural, unintentional, and intentional disasters. The surgeon must take an active role in pre-event community preparation in training, planning, and executing the response to MCI. The marriage of initiatives among Departments of Public Health, the Department of Homeland Security, and existing trauma systems will provide a template for successful responses to terrorist acts.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma: Disaster and Medical Special Operations Committee, DMSOC/EAST, Maine Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Portland, ME 04102-3113, USA. ciraud@mmc.org
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ciraulo
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Barie
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: H Scott
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bjerke
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capella
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cancio
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: J Chistopher
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: DiGiacomo
authors.forename: Ronald I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Letarte
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Shatz
mesh_terms: D004189:Disaster Planning; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D010819:Physician's Role; D011634:Public Health; D023481:Terrorism; D014481:United States