Medical Aspects of Disaster Preparedness and Response: A System Overview of Civil and Military Resources and New Potential

摘要

America's surge capacity medical infrastructure was in many respects launched in 1984, when the National Disaster Medical System, in a partnership between and among many public and private sector organizations and four federal agencies, emerged. Although this system has provided a critical service to those with medical needs, 9/11 and recent reassessments of the current medical threat environment pointed to emerging threats that have lead to the development of other surge responders, including the Surgeon General's MRC, reemphasis upon DoD and NG health related missions, and an incipient revival and expansion of SDF medical missions. The recent passage of the Pandemic and All-hazards Preparedness Act presents a renewed call for organized health volunteerism generally, and is a mandate for strengthening of all emergency health preparedness initiatives, as well as a strengthening of the uniformed Public Health Service and Veterans Administration to help meet emerging medical, mental health, mortuary and veterinary disaster response needs. Although the nation's medical system has struggled with the jurisdictional changes since 9/11 - it remains evident that America's emergency health volunteers will continue as never before to come to the aid of those with medical needs after a disaster befalls them.