Palau's current and future capacity for disaster management.
Despite the challenges of geographic isolation, a small population and limited financial resources, the Republic of Palau has been able to significantly improve its ability to address disasters through establishing an emergency health program funded by US Federal Grants. The ability to prevent and respond to ordinary emergencies and disasters has been bolstered by creating electronic Public Health and Hospital Emergency Operations Plans, improving and creating hospital surge capacity infrastructure in all units beyond recommended minimums, initiating a database of volunteers with disaster response related skills, creating pharmacy caches, developing a national HAZAMT team, teaching critical incident stress debriefing skills, creating and expanding communications networks, improving the pre-hospital care system, conducting active disease surveillance, and improving the scope and quality of lab services. New policies and procedures are implemented and sustained through an active education system incorporating drills, exercises and didactic teaching sessions. These improvements are being made in accordance with local and international legal standards.
Rykken
David
D
Hospital Preparedness Program, Ministry of Health, Koror, Republic of Palau. hprep@palau-health.net
Heiderscheidt
Paul
P
Dever
Gregory
G
Kuartei
Stevenson
S
Maramoto
Pearl
P
D003142:Communication; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration; D008605:Mental Health Services; D019029:Palau; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services
D015386:Hazardous Substances