title: First-receiver hospital decontamination: an 8-step approach to a progressive and practical program.
abstract: The effectiveness of hospital decontamination programs begins with planning, preparation, and practice. A well-thought-out hospital decontamination program encompasses complexities that are not always apparent. In disaster situations, the victim, hospital, patients, and staff are placed at serious risk if untrained, unprepared employees perform emergency decontamination procedures at the hospital-receiving site. The authors describe 8 steps to developing an emergency preparedness program and team with decontamination capabilities to facilitate emergency response in the first-receiver hospital.
authors.affiliation: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 4300 W. 7th Street, 118/LR, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Donna.Edwards@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Billy Bob
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Conner
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Margie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D001131:Arkansas; D003666:Decontamination; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D020380:Needs Assessment