Open AccessModeling Megacity Medical System Response to a CBRNE Event
Author(s) -
Kenneth McDonald,
Tyler McLees,
Siobhan Connolly,
James K. McNulty,
Leah Wasserman,
Ltc Robert Prins
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
industrial and systems engineering review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2329-0188
DOI - 10.37266/iser.2016v4i2.pp131-148
Subject(s) - megacity , agency (philosophy) , business , emergency management , event (particle physics) , medical emergency , operations management , public health , emergency department , health department , veterans affairs , environmental planning , public administration , political science , medicine , engineering , geography , nursing , sociology , physics , economy , quantum mechanics , law , economics , social science
The collaborative effectiveness of the public health system (PHS) and the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) is limited in the case of a 10-kiloton (kt) nuclear event on a megacity due to an overall lack of knowledge and understanding among agencies. This study details an exhaustive analysis of the current medical response system using New York City as a case study. Through the problem definition phase of the Systems Decision Process (SDP), this report identifies operational gaps existing at different levels within the system. Identified operational gaps existed at the local, state, and federal levels in the areas of resources, communication, and planning within the following agencies: Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Evaluation of the operational gaps illustrated the areas which were most vulnerable. The current analysis suggests that the system in place requires adjustments of the identified gaps so that maximum efficiency can be achieved.