title: Decision-support information system to manage mass casualty incidents at a level 1 trauma center.
abstract: Mass casualty incidents are probably the greatest challenge to a hospital. When such an event occurs, hospitals are required to instantly switch from their routine activity to conditions of great uncertainty and confront needs that exceed resources. We describe an information system that was uniquely designed for managing mass casualty events. The web-based system is activated when a mass casualty event is declared; it displays relevant operating procedures, checklists, and a log book. The system automatically or semiautomatically initiates phone calls and public address announcements. It collects real-time data from computerized clinical and administrative systems in the hospital, and presents them to the managing team in a clear graphic display. It also generates periodic reports and summaries of available or scarce resources that are sent to predefined recipients. When the system was tested in a nationwide exercise, it proved to be an invaluable tool for informed decision making in demanding and overwhelming situations such as mass casualty events.
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bar-El
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzafrir
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Idan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzipori
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Utitz
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halberthal
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beyar
authors.affiliation: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reisner
mesh_terms: D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D007557:Israel; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards