Medical Disaster Response

This book addresses the critical medical planning and response issues involved in a mass casualty disaster before, during, and after the event. It presents a comprehensive medical disaster management plan that provides readers with a framework to develop individual policies to suit their particular institution. The book offers a powerful and unique case example through a chronology of the events of September 11th, offering a firsthand account and insight into the quintessential test case for disaster response effectiveness. It also profiles other well-known events as seen through the eyes of the expert contributors who witnessed and participated in the medical response to these tragedies.

David Goldschmitt, MD , is a board-certified emergency physician with experience and training in Disaster Management. As the former chief of emergency at New York Downtown Hospital (only three blocks from Ground Zero) during the events of September 11, 2001, he has the practical experience and exposure that few clinicians possess in this field.A graduate of Bowdoin College Magna Cum Laude with a BA in biology and art history, and with post-graduate studies at the University of Chicago in medical sociology and hospital administration, culminating in receiving his MD in 1985 from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Residency Trained in Emergency Medicine at Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City under New York Medical College, Dr. Goldschmittreceived his board certification in 1990.Immediately upon graduation from his residency program, he became the interim director of Emergency Medicine at Metropolitan Hospital after the untimely death of the original director, Dr. Ralph Altman, a visionary and pioneer in the field of Emergency Medicine. He held that post for one year until a replacement director could be found, and then remained as assistant director of the Emergency Department and Emergency Medicine Residency Program for the next eight years.During that time, he was also liaison to the NYC EMS (prior to the relocation of EMS into FDNY). During that time, he worked at several emergency departments as a clinical attending physician, which led him to New York Downtown Hospital in 1996.One year later, he became director of the Emergency Department and the EMS Paramedic Unit, a position he held for eight years, recently stepping down to an attending physician position in order to pursue other interests, such as writing. Prior to September 11th, Dr. Goldschmitt orchestrated the training of the hospital staff in incident command disaster management, and helped to shape t

Background and Philosophy. Firsthand Accounts. Disaster Management-Parameters. Disaster Management-Clinical Issues. Disaster Management-Non-Clinical Issues. Recovery Strategies. Special Circumstances. Appendices.