|
Function |
Description |
LEMSA Roles |
LEMSA Objective |
|
1. Assess Immediate Medical Needs and
Initiate Response |
A
system to provide a rapid evaluation of the acute medical needs within the
impacted area immediately following an event and the ability of the
healthcare infrastructure in the impacted area to meet those needs. |
Preparedness Response |
Prepare
and establish a system to (1) provide a rapid evaluation of the acute medical
needs immediately following a disaster and the ability of the healthcare
infrastructure in the impacted area to meet those needs; and, (2) notify the
Medical/Health Operational Area Coordinator and other entities required to
activate a response. |
|
2. Manage Disaster Medical Resources |
Those
medical and health resources, including medical transport resources, that can
be requested by an impacted community and provided through local, state or
federal assistance or through contracts and agreements with private
industry. Resources include medical
and health personnel, equipment and supplies. |
Preparedness Response |
Identify,
mobilize, apply, and deactivate medical and health resources needed for the
response to disasters. Resources include medical and health personnel,
medical transport, equipment and supplies acquired from local, regional,
state, or federal governments or through contracts and agreements with the
private sector. |
|
3. Manage Patient Distribution
and Evacuation |
The
process of directing the movement of victims from point of injury to
designated receiving facility, transfer among medical facilities and the
transport of patients from medical facilities within the impacted area to
other facilities either inside or outside the impacted area due to patient or
facility status. |
Preparedness Response Recovery |
(1)
Direct the movement of casualties from point of injury to designated
receiving facility, (2) transfers among medical facilities and (3) transport
of patients from medical facilities within the impacted area to other
facilities either inside or outside the impacted area. |
|
4. Support the Provision of
Hospital Care |
Medical
and health services provided by an acute care facility and associated
personnel including triage, initial treatment and other emergency services
and definitive, resuscitative and restorative treatment services and patient
support in appropriate patient care units to victims of injury or illness. |
Preparedness Response Recovery |
(1)
Promote the development of standardized hospital emergency plans consistent
with the medical response plan of the Operational Area. (2) Develop a system
to support the provision of emergency department and inpatient services
provided by an acute care facility. |
|
5. Support Out of Hospital
Emergency Services |
All
other facilities and services associated with the healthcare system where
medical and/or healthcare services are provided including but not limited to
skilled nursing facilities, board and care facilities, home health agencies,
public health clinics, out-patient surgical clinics, specialty clinics,
doctor’s offices and urgent care facilities. |
Response |
Respond
to non-hospital facilities and services. |
|
7. Coordinate Pre-Hospital
Emergency Services |
Those
services, including organizations, equipment and personnel, provided to
treat, stabilize and transport victims of acute injury or illness to a
medical facility capable of providing appropriate treatment and supportive
care. |
Preparedness Response Recovery |
Develop plans, policies and procedures to: (1)
dispatch medical response resources; and (2) continue the provision of EMS
services during a response to disasters. |
|
6. Support Temporary Field
Treatment Sites |
Medical
triage and treatment sites established following a disaster event on a
temporary basis to provide healthcare support to disaster victims and
displaced personnel. |
Preparedness Response Recovery |
Support
the establishment/management of temporary medical triage and treatment sites
established following a disaster event to provide health care to disaster
victims and displaced personnel. |
|
Additional
Functions / Elements |
Each local EMS agencies shall ensure the
development of disaster medical response plans that incorporates the
provisions of SEMS and is consistent with the planning guidance of local and
state Offices of Emergency Services. |
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Each local EMS agency shall assess periodically
the extent to which their plans, policies, and procedures are consistent with
those of neighboring systems. |
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Each local EMS agency shall ensure that plans and
procedures are developed for the activation, operation and de-activation of
the operating center responsible for coordinating the medical response to
disasters. Plans should ensure
coordination with Operational Area emergency management agency and public
health. |
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Each local EMS agency shall ensure the
availability of sufficient training and exercise opportunities to ensure the
response capability of EMS system personnel and organizations. |
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Local EMS Agencies shall develop plans and
procedures to conduct afteraction reviews of the disaster medical response. |
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8. Conduct Health Surveillance and Epidemiologic Analyses |
An
evaluation system designed to provide information about the relative health
of the impacted population and to evaluate the potential for public health
consequences as a result of the disaster event. This process is ongoing during the response and recovery phase
of disaster operations. |
9. Ensure Food Safety |
The
system of procedures, regulations and inspections designed to ensure that the
public is protected from food borne disease during the production,
processing, distribution and preparation of food |
|
10. Manage Exposure to Hazardous Agents |
The
procedures implemented through guidelines, regulation and training designed
to protect the public and responders from injury due to exposure to chemical,
biological and radiological hazards and to effectively decontaminate exposed
personnel. This function also includes provisions to protect equipment and
the environment from secondary contamination and provide guidance on the
decontamination and remediation of contaminated property and the environment. |
|
11. Support Provision of Mental Health Services |
Services
to improve the emotional health of the public and responders during and
following a disaster event. This
function includes critical incident stress debriefing services as well as
short- and long-term crisis counseling services. |
|
12. Medical and Health Public Information |
The
procedures designed to provide public health information, disease and injury
control information, and medical situation status to the general public and
to responders during and following a disaster event. |
|
13. Support Vector Control |
The
procedures implemented to assess the threat of vector borne disease,
institute field investigations, provide technical assistance to local
abatement districts, implement field control operations and provide
consultation on the medical treatment of victims of vector borne disease. |
|
14. Ensure the Supply of Potable Water |
The
procedures and processes instituted to assess the availability and safety of
drinking water during disaster operations and return damaged water supplies
to full operation. This function
includes field investigations and laboratory support resulting in the
collection and analysis of water samples,
technical consultation with suppliers and system operators, and advise
to the public. |
|
15. Support the Continued Management of Waste Material |
The
procedures and processes instituted to insure the safe collection and disposal
of liquid and solid wastes including guidance on temporary handling of
sewage, hazardous waste and medical waste during disaster operations. This function includes consultation with
sewage and solid waste disposal providers, with responders for the removal
and safe disposal of disaster-related rubble and waste, and advise to the
public. |
|
16. Ensure the Control of Communicable Disease |
The
procedures instituted to prevent, identify, or control the transmission of
disease including epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation,
laboratory services, and control activities such as vaccination programs,
isolation or quarantine. |
|
1. Animal Control |
Those
activities necessary to control loose pets, feral animals, or domestic
animals that present a hazard to human health or safety following a
disaster. Medical and health support
to animal control generally consists of coordination with responsible
agencies and depending upon the discretion of the EOC director could include
oversight and management at the EOC level. |
|
2. Coroner and Mortuary Services |
Those
activities necessary to identify, register, hold and safely dispose of human
remains to prevent health risks to the public and maintain the dignity of the
deceased. Medical and health support
to coroner and mortuary services generally consists of coordination with
responsible agencies and may include reporting mortality statistics generated
by the responsible agency. |
|
3. Care and Shelter (Ancillary Services) |
Medical
and health support services, such as nursing or physician services, necessary
to maintain the health of the individuals in mass care facilities. These services also include the provision
or staffing of a temporary infirmary or medical shelter if necessary to meet
the needs of the medically fragile. |