Publications

Are We Prepared for Disaster?

Since 2002, $7.7 billion has been poured into disaster preparedness. But according to Closing the Seams, Developing an Integrated Approach to Health System Disaster Preparedness, medical professionals are not very ready to respond to an emergency or disaster. Researchers at the Health Research Institute (HRI) of Pricewaterhouse-Coopers discovered that hospitals and public health workers rarely work together, and other frontline workers, such as physicians and nurses, are often not included in planning.

HRI found that preparedness efforts for a medical emergency response are “sporadic and disconnected.” Staff training, professional staff shortages and response coordination are the primary areas of concern.

What AFSCME has been advocating since 9/11 – frontline workers, community clinics and nursing homes need to be included in preparedness planning – is what HRI has now voiced.

HRI also reported that in 2007, federal funds for hospitals were set at $415 million (from the Hospital Preparedness Program) compared to $623 million slated for stockpiling medicines and other supplies (from the Strategic National Stockpile). While spending to stockpile has doubled since 2003, funding for staffing, training and systems support has declined.

Print Version