Design and evaluation of a disaster preparedness logistics tool

Authors

  • Robert Neches, PhD
  • Tatyana Ryutov, PhD
  • Tatiana Kichkaylo, PhD
  • Rita V. Burke, PhD, MPH
  • Ilene A. Claudius, MD
  • Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD, FAAP, FACS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2009.0044

Keywords:

decision support system, pediatric disaster preparedness, pediatric trauma

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the development and testing of the Pediatric Emergency Decision Support System (PEDSS), a dynamic tool for pediatric victim disaster planning.
Design: This is a descriptive article outlining an innovative automated approach to pediatric decision support and disaster planning.
Settings: Disaster Resource Centers and umbrella hospitals in Los Angeles County.
Patients: The authors use a model set of hypothetical patients for our pediatric disaster planning approach.
Results: The authors developed the PEDSS software to accomplish two goals: (a) core that supports user interaction and data management requirements (eg, accessing demographic information about a healthcare facility’s catchment area) and (b) set of modules each addressing a critical disaster preparation issue.
Conclusions: The authors believe the PEDSS tool will help hospital disaster response personnel produce and maintain disaster response plans that apply best practice pediatric recommendations to their particular local conditions and requirements.

Author Biographies

Robert Neches, PhD

Professor, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, California.

Tatyana Ryutov, PhD

Computer Scientist, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, California.

Tatiana Kichkaylo, PhD

Computer Scientist, University of Southern California, Information Sciences Institute, Marina del Rey, California.

Rita V. Burke, PhD, MPH

Senior Research Analyst, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Ilene A. Claudius, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD, FAAP, FACS

Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

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Published

11/01/2009

How to Cite

Neches, PhD, R., T. Ryutov, PhD, T. Kichkaylo, PhD, R. V. Burke, PhD, MPH, I. A. Claudius, MD, and J. S. Upperman, MD, FAAP, FACS. “Design and Evaluation of a Disaster Preparedness Logistics Tool”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 4, no. 6, Nov. 2009, pp. 309-20, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2009.0044.

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