NYC Healthcare Preparedness for Radiological Casualties: Addressing Training and Detection Gaps

Katherine Uraneck, MDSr. Medical Coordinator

Healthcare Readiness UnitOffice of Emergency Preparedness & ResponseNYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Identifying the Gaps 2004-2005 Conducted site visits to

40/69 NYC Hospitals Less than 17% of NYC hospitals were

had equipment to detect radiation contamination in emergency department

Only 50% of hospitals had written plan for radiation incidents

No identifiable training for hospital staff on responding to a radiation incident available at that time

NYC Hospital Resources 65 Hospitals ~21,000 Staffed Beds, 83% occupied ~1,700 ICU Beds, 65% occupied ~230 Pediatric ICU Beds 71 certified burn beds 3,300 hospital

admissions/day

Lack of Radiation Awareness Hawaii Study NYC Healthcare Worker

Willingness to Respond Survey

NYC Radiation IncidentPreparedness Projects

Hospital Radiation Response Working Group 2006-2008

Hospital Radiation Equipment & Training Project 2006- present

EMS Radiation Equipment Project 2006-present

Hospital Radiation Detection Drills 2010

NYC Hospital Radiation Response Working Group

2 year working group developed NYC specific guidance on hospital response to contaminating radiation incidents

Available at: http://www.nyc.gov/health/bhpp

NYC Hospital Radiation Detection Project

52 NYC hospitals currently participating Equipment distributed:

Personal digital dosimeters, survey meters, and radiation area monitors

Guidance provided on developing a response protocol & plan

Training provided to all hospitals Conducted drills of 13/52 hospitals

during 2010

Radiation Equipment Training

Provided Basic and Advanced training on equipment

Over 500 hospital personnel trained at basic level

Radiation Safety Officers provided with advanced training

All training materials, presentations, handouts, tests, available for download and modification http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/bhpp/bhpp-train-cbrne-rad.shtml

Additional Training Efforts Radiation Response Symposium for

Radiation Safety Officers 2008 and 2009

Partnered with REAC/TS for medical management training in 2008

Lessons Learned Hospital and healthcare facilities

have limited radiation detection equipment, training or plans,

Focus on staff safety to encourage participation,

Involve Hospital Radiation Safety Officers early,

Lessons Learned If you put up radiation detection

equipment, you will detect radiation – have your own response protocols in place,

Radiation equipment skills are perishable – create easy drills or quick reviews for staff to conduct biannually, and

As training on equipment increases, staff anxiety decreases.

Questions?

Contact information:Kate Uraneck, MDkuraneck@health.nyc.gov