title: Assessment of hospital disaster preparedness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup using an internet-based, long-distance tabletop drill.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The State University of New York at Downstate (SUNY) conducted a web-based long-distance tabletop drill (LDTT) designed to identify vulnerabilities in safety, security, communications, supplies, incident management, and surge capacity for a number of hospitals preceding the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The tabletop drill simulated a stampede and crush-type disaster at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa in anticipation of 2010 FIFA World Cup. The LDTT, entitled "Western Cape-Abilities", was conducted between May and September 2009, and encompassed nine hospitals in the Western Cape of South Africa. The main purpose of this drill was to identify strengths and weaknesses in disaster preparedness among nine state and private hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. These hospitals were tasked to respond to the ill and injured during the 2010 World Cup.
  
  
  METHODS
  This LDTT utilized e-mail to conduct a 10-week, scenario-based drill. Questions focused on areas of disaster preparedness previously identified as standards from the literature. After each scenario stimulus was sent, each hospital had three days to collect answers and submit responses to drill controllers via e-mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data collected from the nine participating hospitals met 72% (95%CI = 69%-75%) of the overall criteria examined. The highest scores were attained in areas such as equipment, with 78% (95%CI = 66%-86%) positive responses, and development of a major incident plan with 85% (95% CI = 77%-91%) of criteria met. The lowest scores appeared in the areas of public relations/risk communications; 64% positive responses (95% CI = 56%-72%), and safety, supplies, fire and security meeting also meeting 64% of the assessed criteria (95% CI = 57%-70%). Surge capacity and surge capacity revisited both met 76% (95% CI = 68%-83% and 68%-82%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This assessment of disaster preparedness indicated an overall good performance in categories such as hospital equipment and development of major incident plans, but improvement is needed in hospital security, public relations, and communications ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
authors: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors: Water
authors: W
authors: Valesky
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Silverberg
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Gillett
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Roblin
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Adelaine
authors: Lee A
authors: LA
authors: Wallis
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Smith
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Arquilla
mesh_terms: D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D009518:New York; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012916:Soccer; D013019:South Africa; D055872:Surge Capacity / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*