title: Essentials of disaster management: the role of the orthopaedic surgeon.
abstract: Disaster preparedness and management education is essential for allowing orthopaedic surgeons to play a valuable, constructive role in responding to disasters. The National Incident Management System, as part of the National Response Framework, provides coordination between all levels of government and uses the Incident Command System as its unified command structure. An "all-hazards" approach to disasters, whether natural, man-made, intentional, or unintentional, is fundamental to disaster planning. To respond to any disaster, command and control must be established, and emergency management must be integrated with public health and medical care. In the face of increasing acts of terrorism, an understanding of blast injury pathophysiology allows for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies. A practical understanding of potential biologic, chemical, and nuclear agents and their attendant clinical symptoms is also prerequisite. Credentialing and coordination between designated organizations and the federal government are essential to allow civilian orthopaedic surgeons to access systems capable of disaster response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Keith O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Monchik
authors.forename: Roman A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hayda
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bosse
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Pollak
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D054597:Disaster Medicine; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics; D010819:Physician's Role; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States