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Article
Impact of Facility Damages on Hospital Capacities for Decision Support in Disaster Response Planning for an Earthquake
Faculty and Research Publications
  • Jomon Paul, Kennesaw State University
  • Li Lin, University at Buffalo The State University of New York
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2009
Abstract

Hospitals provide life-saving functions and emergency assistance to communities when disaster strikes. Any damage to hospitals from a disaster, either structural and non-structural, can impair these capabilities. In addition, an inaccurate estimation of the treatment capacities available at hospitals in a disaster-affected region can severely affect the success of emergency relief plans. In this paper, the impact of facility damage on hospital operations is estimated using a generic simulation model. From the simulation results, parametric models are developed for estimating hospitals' capacities and patient waiting times that could be used by emergency response teams in making casualty dispatching/routing decisions.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1017/S1049023X00007068
Citation Information
Paul JA, Lin L. 2009. Impact of facility damages on hospital capacities for decision support in disaster response planning for an earthquake. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 24(4), 333–341.