title: Natural disaster management: experience of an academic institution after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This case study describes the implementation of an academic institution's disaster management plan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  USFQ's Medical School developed a six-phase disaster relief plan consisting of: induction, establishing a base camp, crisis management and mental health aid, creation of multidisciplinary teams and multi-agency teams, and reconstruction. Each phase uses a community-oriented approach to foster survivor autonomy and recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our methodology facilitated the successful implementation of multidisciplinary interventions to manage the earthquake's aftermath on the personal, community and regional levels, treated and prevented psychological and physical morbidity among survivors and promoted healthy living conditions and independence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary response team that addresses medical needs, mental health, education, food, nutrition and sanitation is highly effective in contributing to timely, effective relief efforts. The short- and long-term solutions we describe could be applicable to other academic centres' interventions in future disaster scenarios around the world.
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud COCSA, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cordero-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud COCSA, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador; Hospital de los Valles, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Hospitalidad, Arte Culinario y Turismo CHAT, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramia
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades COCISOH, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Politécnico, Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierias, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades COCISOH, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramia
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Politécnico, Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierias, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Egas
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Comunicación y Artes Contemporáneas COCOA, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodas
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud COCSA, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahamonde
authors.affiliation: Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud COCSA, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador; Hospital de los Valles, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Quito, Ecuador. Electronic address: mgrunauer@usfq.edu.ec.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grunauer
mesh_terms: D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007324:Institutional Management Teams / Q000458:organization & administration; D008603:Mental Health; D012066:Relief Work
keywords: Disaster management; Earthquake; Ecuador; Relief