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Automated Translation of Clinical Parameters in Evaluating Acute Radiation Injury: Results From a Mass Casualty Exercise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2018

James T. Dant ,
Glen Reeves  and
Daniela Stricklin
James T. Dant*
Affiliation:
Arlington Division, Applied Research Associates Inc, Arlington, Virginia
Glen Reeves
Affiliation:
Rad Doc Inc., Weiser, Idaho
Daniela Stricklin
Affiliation:
Health Effects and Medical Response, Applied Research Associates, Arlington, Virginia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to James T. Dant, Applied Research Associates Inc, Arlington Division, Arlington, VA 22203 (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

A radiological disaster could result in a large number of patients potentially exposed to harmful levels of radiation. Currently, early triage of patients for radiation exposure relies heavily on a clinical evaluation of signs and symptoms. However, detailed clinical assessment takes significant time and requires specialized training to accurately interpret the results.

Methods

During planning of a recent exercise, SMEs estimated that it would take up to 15 minutes per patient. Patient load would quickly overwhelm the number of qualified clinicians providing treatment. In this exercise organized by the NATO RTG HFM 222, we examined using automated translation of clinical data to facilitate clinic evaluations. We used two triage evaluation approaches; REAC/TS and METREPOL. These approaches allowed us to translate tabulated clinical data, first into categorical data for grouping patients, and then into recommendations for follow-up diagnostics and care.

Results

The organizers provided clinical evaluations of 191 case studies that were estimated to require up to 50 total hours for completion. However, using our application, we were able to evaluate all cases in less than 2 minutes.

Conclusion

This study clearly demonstrates the need for automated tools to help translate clinical data for effective patient triage after a nuclear or radiological incident. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:569–573)

Keywords

radiation injuriesnuclear weaponsacute radiation syndrometriagemass casualty incidents
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 569 - 573
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2018 

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References

1. Sugarman, SL, Goans, RE, Garrett, AS, Livingston, GK. The Medical Aspects of Radiation Incidents . Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge Associated Universities; 2011.Google Scholar
2. Fliedner, TM, Friesecke, I, Beyrer, K. Medical Management of Radiation Accidents: Manual on the Acute Radiation Syndrome (METREPOL). Oxford: British Institute of Radiology; 2001.Google Scholar
3. Dörr, H, Abend, M, Blakely, WF, et al. Using clinical signs and symptoms for medical management of radiation casualties – 2015 NATO exercise. Radiat Res. 2017;187(3):273-286.Google Scholar