title: Healthcare vulnerabilities to electromagnetic pulse.
abstract: The U.S. healthcare system is particularly vulnerable to the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack because of the system's technological sophistication, but while national defense planners prepare for the considerable threat that EMP poses, there has been little or no recognition of this threat within the US healthcare community, and neither has there been any significant healthcare planning to deal with such an eventuality. Recognition of the risk presented by EMP, and advance institution of appropriate strategies to mitigate its effects on the healthcare system, could enable the preservation of much of that system's function in the face of EMP-related disruptions, and will greatly further all-hazards disaster preparations.
authors.affiliation: Center for Homeland Security Studies, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Lenard H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: F Matthew
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mihelic
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration