HOSPITALS ARCHIVES
Biosafety Laboratory Issues and Failures
Robert C. Hutchinson
April 12, 2023
Concerns regarding unexpected biological incidents and their public health implications were discussed in a 2014 Domestic Preparedness biosecurity and bioterrorism article. From the improper possession and storage of decades-old live smallpox virus in a former Food and Drug Administration laboratory (lab) on the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus to
Guidance for Preparing Professionals Mentally for the Worst
James Greenstone and Weldon Walles
March 22, 2023
Professional groups have debated and researched the best practices relating to the standards and quality of care sufficient to maintain minimum standards during a disaster. Due to the fluid nature of a disaster, it is difficult to abide by a standard that will fit every situation. For example, the onset
Linking Resilience and Innovation for Emergency Preparedness
Nia D'Emilio and Christopher Tarantino
February 15, 2023
Most industries suggest a certain level of resilience and innovation. It is important to get through challenging times to keep a company going, and “innovate or die” has long been a mantra of the business world. While these concepts – or in some cases, buzzwords – come up in various lines of
Crisis Standards of Care – A Mental Health Perspective
James Greenstone
January 25, 2023
Crisis standards of care and sufficiency of care are topics of great controversy and debate in professional circles. The reasons may be obvious to most. Traditionally, health care responders are trained and held to the standard of care of their profession when rendering aid. Nothing less is acceptable. The public
Publisher’s Note: Auld Lang Syne (A Chance to Recollect and Restore)
MacGregor Stephenson
December 28, 2022
As we come to the end of a challenging year and a tumultuous period, please know that your efforts
are appreciated, and the sacrifices of you and your families have a significant and positive impact on
all of our communities. On behalf of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, its staff, and its advisory
board,
The Importance of Strong Leadership for a Unique Discipline
Catherine L. Feinman
December 21, 2022
A transformational leadership style can help bridge relationship and communication gaps between
leaders and other community stakeholders. Learn how one young deputy fire chief learned from his past
leadership missteps and honed his meta-leadership skills, which were essential in reconnecting
communities when he became a state emergency manager.
Find Chances to Make Positive Changes
Catherine L. Feinman
November 30, 2022
Emergency preparedness and response professionals willingly insert themselves into many emergencies and disasters that they could have avoided in other professions. However, they use these opportunities to make positive changes and build resiliency within their communities.
Rationale for Structuring Pandemic Response on a War Footing
Thomas Russo
October 26, 2022
Given 20 years of pandemic planning, is it not surprising when people ask, “Why were we not ready?”
This question should be explored whether the time has come to put the country on a warlike footing for
pandemic response with a coherent, institutionalized, and tested pandemic policy.
Resources Not to Be Overlooked
Catherine L. Feinman
September 28, 2022
The term “whole community” is frequently used in preparedness materials and discussions. In
practice, though, how often is the whole community represented and all community resources considered?
Here are some key resources that should not be overlooked.
Hospital Response – A Personal Training Experience
Erin Valentine
August 17, 2022
Effective trainings are ones where the participants remember and later implement what they learned
into their daily operations. Not everyone knows how they would respond in a true emergency. However,
some trainings provide a more realistic glimpse into disaster scenarios than others. This first-hand
account describes what it was like for one participant
Reduce Burnout & Increase Retention in Emergency Management
Kesley Richardson
August 10, 2022
In emergency management (EM), the landscape of incoming professionals is evolving from second-career professionals to first-career college graduated practitioners. This change spotlights the difference between management and leadership and its effects on the retention and burnout of professionals. EM professionals see growth in organizations, with “projected growth between 2016 and
Discovering Another New Normal
Catherine L. Feinman
July 27, 2022
Because of the interconnectedness of so many aspects of society, the authors in this July edition
of the Domestic Preparedness Journal help readers better understand what is needed in the new normal: a
common operating picture, predictable lifelines, new or repurposed technological tools, and more. The
new normal after COVID
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