Open AccessSecondary Surge Capacity: A Framework for Understanding Long-Term Access to Primary Care for Medically Vulnerable Populations in Disaster Recovery
Author(s) -
Jennifer D. Runkle,
Amy Brock-Martin,
Wilfried Karmaus,
Erik Svendsen
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2012.301027
Subject(s) - surge capacity , vulnerability (computing) , anticipation (artificial intelligence) , health care , medicine , environmental health , medical emergency , business , political science , covid-19 , computer security , disease , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
Disasters create a secondary surge in casualties because of the sudden increased need for long-term health care. Surging demands for medical care after a disaster place excess strain on an overtaxed health care system operating at maximum or reduced capacity. We have applied a health services use model to identify areas of vulnerability that perpetuate health disparities for at-risk populations seeking care after a disaster. We have proposed a framework to understand the role of the medical system in modifying the health impact of the secondary surge on vulnerable populations. Baseline assessment of existing needs and the anticipation of ballooning chronic health care needs following the acute response for at-risk populations are overlooked vulnerability gaps in national surge capacity plans.