Integrating Pediatric Disaster Care into the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS): Using Job Action Sheets for Pre-Event Planning

Article Outline

• Clinical Topic
• Implementation
• Outcomes
• Recommendations
• Copyright

Back to Article Outline

Clinical Topic 

The purpose of this project was to develop pediatric-specific job action sheets (JAS) entitled Pediatric Unit Leader and Pediatric Logistics Unit Leader to provide tools for pediatric disaster planning for use within the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS). This project was funded through the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) bioterrorism preparedness funds. All 33 hospitals receiving grant funds were expected to include plans and resources for taking care of children within their disaster plans.

Back to Article Outline

Implementation 

A citywide needs assessment through the CDPH determined that many hospitals in Chicago were seeking tools and assistance with pediatric disaster planning and care. The JAS were developed by the authors and critiqued by the members of the Bioterrorism (BT) Preparedness Pediatric Sub-committee, one of several citywide committees. They were disseminated to 33 city hospitals and interested suburban hospitals through both an educational conference and a presentation at a monthly HRSA grant recipient All Hospital Meeting in November 2004. In addition to the JAS, all hospitals also received training DVDs of presentations by national experts, a BT resource manual (Bio-Terry™), and medical and safety checklists.

Back to Article Outline

Outcomes 

All Chicago hospitals had implemented HEICS during an earlier grant cycle. Effectiveness of the pediatric JAS will be determined during BT preparedness drills in 2005. Ten of the 33 HRSA-funded hospitals will participate in a voluntary onsite pediatric consultation and review of their disaster plans during the first two quarters of 2005. The consultation component is a grant deliverable for Children's Memorial Hospital.

Back to Article Outline

Recommendations 

Integration of pediatric-care planning prior to an actual disaster will ensure that the burden of pediatric care does not fall solely to emergency-nurse and emergency-department providers. Sharing tools developed by pediatric experts and encouraging hospitals to integrate these tools before an actual incident should enhance care during a disaster. It is recommended that all hospitals utilizing the HEICS model consider implementation of pediatric JAS. It is also recommended that the HEICS-IV committee review these documents for inclusion in the upgrade to HEICS that is scheduled for publication in 2005.