title: Preparing emergency personnel in dialysis: a just-in-time training program for additional staffing during disasters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are 341 000 patients in the United States who are dependent on routine dialysis for survival. Recent large-scale disasters have emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness, including supporting dialysis units, for people with chronic disease. Contingency plans for staffing are important for providing continuity of care for a technically challenging procedure such as dialysis. PReparing Emergency Personnel in Dialysis (PREP-D) is a just-in-time training program designed to train individuals having minimum familiarity with the basic steps of dialysis to support routine dialysis staff during a disaster.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-module educational program was developed through a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort. A pilot study testing the program was performed using 20 nontechnician dialysis facility employees and 20 clinical-year medical students as subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing pretest and posttest scores, the entire study population showed a mean improvement of 28.9%, with dialysis facility employees and medical students showing improvements of 21.8% and 36.4%, respectively (P < .05 for all comparisons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PREP-D participants were able to demonstrate improved tests scores when taught in a just-in-time training format. The knowledge gained by using the PREP-D program during a staffing shortage may allow for continuity of care for critical services such as dialysis during a disaster.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
authors.forename: Genevieve B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Stoler
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: ESRD Network 4.
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suyama
mesh_terms: D002959:Civil Defense; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003956:Dialysis; D004190:Disasters; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010865:Pilot Projects