Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T20:29:08.379Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hospital Disaster Preparedness in Osaka, Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Tatsuro Kai ,
Takashi Ukai ,
Muneo Ohta  and
Ernesto Pretto
Tatsuro Kai*
Affiliation:
Chief Surgeon, Senri Critical Care Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
Takashi Ukai
Affiliation:
Vice-Director, Senri Critical Care Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
Muneo Ohta
Affiliation:
Director, Senri Critical Care Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
Ernesto Pretto
Affiliation:
Principal Investigator, Disaster Reanimatology Study Group (DRSG), International Resuscitation Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA
*
Senri Critical Care Medical Center, 1-1 Tsukumodai, Suite 565, Osaka, Japan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Purpose:

To investigate the adequacy of hospital disaster preparedness in the Osaka, Japan area.

Methods:

Questionnaires were constructed to elicit information from hospital administrators, pharmacists, and safety personnel about self-sufficiency in electrical, gas, water, food, and medical supplies in the event of a disaster. Questionnaires were mailed to 553 hospitals.

Results:

A total of 265 were completed and returned (Recovery rate; 48%). Of the respondents, 16% of hospitals that returned the completed surveys had an external disaster plan, 93% did not have back-up plans to accept casualties during a disaster if all beds were occupied, 8% had drugs and 6% had medical supplies stockpiled for disasters. In 78% of hospitals, independent electric power generating plants had been installed. However, despite a high proportion of power-plant equipment available, 57% of hospitals responding estimated that emergency power generation would not exceed six hours due to a shortage of reserve fuel. Of the hospitals responding, 71% had reserve water supply, 15% of hospitals responding had stockpiles of food for emergency use, and 83% reported that it would be impossible to provide meals for patients and staff with no main gas supply.

Conclusions:

No hospitals fulfilled the criteria for adequate disaster preparedness based on the categories queried. Areas of greatest concern requiring improvement were: 1) lack of an external disaster plan; and 2) self-sufficiency in back-up energy, water, and food supply. It is recommended that hospitals in Japan be required to develop plans for emergency operations in case of an external disaster. This should be linked with hospital accreditation as is done for internal disaster plans.

Keywords

disaster medicinedisaster preparednessdisaster responseearthquake preparednessemergency medical services (EMS)hospitalsquestionnaireutilities
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 1994 , pp. 29 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Heisei 3 Nendo Bohsai Hakyuso: Ohkurasyoh insatukyoku (White papers of disaster prevention). Tokyo: Bureau of Publication, Ministry of Finance, 1991.Google Scholar
2. Rikitake, T: Nippon No Kiken-Chitai-Zishin To Tsunami (High Risk Areas in Japan, Earthquakes and Tsunamis). Tokyo: Shincho-Sha, 1988Google Scholar
3. Watoh, Y: Pittsburgh-shi ni okeru EMS system ni tuite. Nippon Iji Shinppo 1992;3546:95–98.Google Scholar
4. Quarentelli, EL, Taylor, V: Delivery of Emergency Medical Services in Disaster. Columbus, Ohio: Disaster Research Center, Ohio State University, 1977, p 18.Google Scholar
5. Klain, M, Ricci, E, Safar, P et al. : Disaster reanimatology potentials: A structured interview study in Armenia I. Methodology and preliminary results. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1989;4:135–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Pretto, E, Ricci, E, Klain, M et al. : Disaster reanimatology potentials: A structured interview study in Armenia III. Results, conclusions, and recommendations. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1992;7:327–338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Reitherman, R: How to prepare a hospital for an earthquake. J Emerg Med 1986;4:119–131.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Nagasaki Kemritsu Shimahara Onsen Byouin (Nagasaki Prefectural Shimahara Hotsprings Hospital) Heisei 3 Nen, Shimahara Taihen, 1991.Google Scholar
9. Ricci, E, Pretto, E: Assessment of prehospital and hospital response in Disaster. Crit Care Clin 1991;7:471–487.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Ricci, E, Pretto, E, Safar, P et al. : Disaster reanimatology potentials: A structured interview study in Armenia II. Method for the study of medical response to disaster. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1991;6:159–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Pretto, E, Safar, P: National medical response to mass disasters in the U.S.: Are we prepared? JAMA 1991;266:1259–1262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed