America's hospitals are better prepared to mitigate disasters and public health emergencies than they were eight years ago, but nevertheless are still hindered by communication gaps and potential funding woes, according to a new report conducted for HHS by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
-Modern Healthcare Journal

Disasters, both natural and terrorist oriented, pose a huge threat to a hospitals ability to properly administer quality medical services when a huge surge of patients floods in all at once.

Aside from surge capacity, several key issues are still in question within many organizations including funding issues, implementing strategic plans, communication dilemmas, and many others which hinder quality of care during these situations.

Psychological first aid is being administered for the first time along with traditional treatments more and more frequently throughout the nation with very positive results. Also strategies involving patients with special needs whom require additional nontraditional care are emerging in the industry showing very encouraging outcomes.

World Congress' 6th Annual Disaster Planning for Hospitals, will tackle the pertinent challenges impacting healthcare facilities when faced with all applicable scenarios such as earthquakes, tornados and terrorist strikes just to name a few. This conference will answer the imperative questions and unknowns surrounding proper hospital preparedness and the economic factors that are compelling executives of these organizations to re-think current practices and policies over pervious, possibly less engaged plans. The conference will specifically assist you to:

• Begin to develop an action plan to prepare hospitals for such situations
• Increase security to ensure community safety
• Develop your emergency response team
• Understand the importance of alternate care sites
• Explore different strategies applicable to many different situations
• Understand the financial cost of a disaster to a hospital

Additionally, learn innovative strategies in over 15 case studies from key industry professionals who are employing new tactics to approach planning and implementing a disaster plan much more effectively. Learn how:

• Capital Health is utilizing a comprehensive evaluation of surge capacity through hospital evacuation procedures and emergency preparedness planners
• Joint Commission's emergency management standards can be best met and explore their role nationally
• St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is understanding and overcoming the unique challenges posed by pediatric patients in a disaster situations
• Eastern Maine Health Systems is exploring disaster planning in regards to infection prevention, pandemic preparedness, and bioterrorism
• St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is addressing the disaster needs of special care patients including the elderly patient and building organizational resilience
• Columbus Regional Hospital understands flood implications and psychological first aid by tolerating ambiguity, understanding uncertainty and adapting to complexity for maximizing outcomes
• New Hanover Regional Medical Center is leveraging federal hospital preparedness program funding to increase hospital preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities during h urricanes
• Somerset Medical Center is exploring a perspective for executives regarding disaster planning with a specialized focus on terrorist strikes in the New York Metropolitan Area
• Spectrum Health Hospital Group is working with special needs populations during decontamination
• Orlando Health is assessing the new threat from hazmat patients
• Nebraska Heart Institute and Heart Hospital is developing tornado preparation strategies and understanding disaster planning from a small facility's perspective
• Banner Health System is building an effective decontamination team and communicating with state radiological agencies to properly handle a radiological disaster
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is exploring innovative tools for hospitals to utilize to avoid a disaster of their own
• Temple University Hospital Episcopal Campus is discovering security and training strategies while staying compliant with joint commission

Come for the Education, Benefit from the Networking

World Research Group recognizes the importance of capturing new opportunities, strategies and connections. This conference is designed to achieve a high level of engagement and interaction between conference attendees and speaker faculty members. In addition to delivering value-driven, high quality content that will justify your attendance, w e are delighted to offer an environment which fosters dialogue and professional relationship building. We are committed to ensuring that your time at this conference is a great investment.