title: Emergency preparedness for genetics centers, laboratories, and patients: the Southeast Region Genetics Collaborative strategic plan.
abstract: Emergencies occur unpredictably and interrupt routine genetic care. The events after hurricanes Katrina and Rita have led to the recognition that a coherent plan is necessary to ensure continuity of operations for genetic centers and laboratories, including newborn screening. No geographic region is protected from the effects of a variety of potential emergencies. Regional and national efforts have begun to address the need for such preparedness, but a plan for ensuring continuity of operations by creating an emergency preparedness plan must be developed for each genetic center and laboratory, with attention to the interests of patients. This article describes the first steps in development of an emergency preparedness plan for individual centers.
authors.affiliation: Hayward Genetics Center, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University Medical School, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. handers@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bowdish
authors.forename: Phaidra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Floyd-Browning
mesh_terms: D002959:Civil Defense; D004189:Disaster Planning; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients; D015144:Southeastern United States