Intensive care unit disaster preparation: Keep it simple

Abstract

The ICU disaster preparedness and emergency mass critical care is slowly becoming recognized as a deficiency in our nation's health care preparedness. Mahoney, Biffl, and Cioffi should be commended for their significant contribution to this awareness and dialogue. Although detailed analysis with dedicated resources is vital to successful ICU MCI preparedness, the process needs to remain simple - know the threat, meet the players, develop and understand the disaster organization, and rehearse. It is not the plan per se that results, it is the planning process, the contacts that are made, and the training that ensues that will optimize chances for a successful response. Given those preparations, the heroes who respond will develop a new path for success. © 2008 Sage Publications.