title: Development of a community pharmacy disaster preparedness manual.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To share an independent pharmacy's experience creating a practical manual for disaster preparedness that incorporates applicable pharmacy regulations, provides a plan to prepare a community pharmacy for disasters, and addresses the pharmacy's duty to the community during disasters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed to determine if such a manual or a guide had been published previously. The search returned examples of expectations of hospitals during disasters, but few results were specific to community pharmacy. An Internet search for pharmacy contingency planning returned only a few checklists and descriptive reports of pharmacist involvement in past disasters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public resources available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Public Health, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Community Pharmacists Association, and American Pharmacists Association were explored. The Iowa State Board of Pharmacy also was contacted. Information was compiled to create a useful guide that addressed disaster planning, risk assessment, and public need during a disaster and that prioritized the needs of the pharmacy and community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Every community pharmacy should have a detailed disaster preparedness manual that is readily accessible and easy to follow. The manual created for Valley Drug focused on continuing pharmacy operations while minimizing disruptions in patient care during a disaster. Our manual included only necessary information required to prepare for, operate during, or recover from a disaster.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Noe
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development