Health Assessment and Communication
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BSN-FP4014_TallarineSamantha_Assessment3-1.pptxTornado Disaster in Joplin, Missouri and in Birmingham, Alabama
Samantha Tallarine
Capella University
BSN-FP4014
July, 2019
EFFECTS ON COMMUNITY HEALTH
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The occurrence of crises such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions leave the affected communities without access to healthcare (Delgado, Gonzalez, & Swathi, 2017).
Natural disasters destroy the necessary infrastructure like roads and power supply
The outbreak of diseases like Ebola affects health care delivery because of the exposure to the virus.
In the long-run, the crisis’s effect on the social susceptibility of the populace can have a ripple impact, which further burdens health care delivery care in the community.
Shifts in victim demographics creates significant workload for weakened health systems
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RESPONSE TO 2011, TORNADO IN JOPLIN
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) activated the PHEP-financed State Emergency Operations Center and Emergency(CDC, 2011).
It integrated public health into the emergency response and, in partnership with its associates, lead and coordinated the health care and public health sectors.
Local health units took advantage of existing collaborations with health units in others states to offer mutual aid utilities like administering tetanus vaccinations.
The private sector-inclusive of churches, Joplin residents, the business community, and volunteers offered relief to the victims.
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RESPONSE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
The state through FEMA activated its National Response Coordination Staff to Level II
Level II activates its emergency support operations inclusive of search and rescue, public health, mass care, and transportation (FEMA, 2011).
FEMA coordinated the emergency response teams ensuring that the exercise went on smoothly.
The private sector also provided aid, with the Salvation Army offering free meals to the affected victims.
In comparison to the Joplin tornado the Birmingham response was well coordinated.
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Key Lessons Learned in the Joplin Disaster
Hospitals should test all emergency plans to pinpoint and correct weaknesses(Smith & Sutter, 2013).
It is important to draft emergency plans to provide medical staff with critical thinking capabilities to manage disaster responses.
Tactical and strategic communication is vital to coordinating response teams, media and the public.
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Key Lessons Learnt in Birmingham, Alabama
It is important to update disaster training and have the necessary equipment for future disasters
inclusive of items to assist hospitals in evacuating and kits to convert busies for patient transport.
The disaster also showed the need for counties and cities to have debris contracts in place before a disaster.
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CURRENT PRACTICES JOPLIN
A majority of hospitals in Missouri have their emergency operations plans and their command centers active.
In case of a community crisis there is enough notice and time to prepare and communication systems are uninterrupted.
The hospitals are able to dispatch teams based on the information they have on the extent of injuries and fatalities in the area community.
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CURRENT PRACTICES IN BIRMINGHAM
The current practice in Birmingham involves educating the medical staff of the proper vehicle extraction-methods
In case of a crisis the seriously injured people can find their way to hospital easily.
The disaster plan in Birmingham also involves an alternative supply of medicines such as tetanus toxoid to the medical emergency teams in the field in case of an emergency.
Physicians in the area educate residents on how to respond to tornadoes and other community crises.
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KEY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
The key areas for improvement are the supply of water, medication, and power.
Since natural disasters destroy the existing infrastructure it is important to have a backup plan on how to supply water and medicines.
Sometimes the nearest hospitals where the residents would go in case of a crisis may be destroyed or over-burden by the surge of victims thus, it is important to have a plan to counter the effect like provision of additional staff.
During natural disasters power outages are witnessed
It is important to have an alternative radio communication to ensure communication is not interrupted.
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RECOMMENDATION
Nurses require more education and preparation in reacting to crises
Nurses get minimal crisis-focused instruction as part of their formal training.
The federal financing is inconsistent, whereas local and state cutbacks endanger the public health workforce (Brand, 2016).
More training and resources will enhance the nurses’ capacity to safeguard the country’s health during extraordinary occurrences like tornadoes(Brand, 2016).
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REFERENCES
Brand, R. (2016, May 1). When Disaster Strikes. Retrieved from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2016/05/when-disaster-strikes.html
CDC. (2011). Tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/stories/mo.htm
FEMA. (2011). Response and Support Efforts for Southern U.S. Tornadoes and Severe Storms. Retrieved from FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/blog/2011-04-29/recap-response-and-support-efforts-southern-us-tornadoes-and-severe-storms
Smith, D., & Sutter, D. (2013). Response and Recovery after the Joplin Tornado: Lessons Applied and Lessons Learned. The Independent Review , 18(2): 165-188.
Swathi, J., Gonzalez, P., & Delgado, R. (2017). Disaster management and primary health care: implications for medical education. International Journal on Medical Education, 8: 414-415.
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