Disaster Medicine: Disaster Preparedness Planning

Family physicians are well positioned to educate patients about creating their own disaster plans. Disaster preparedness education for individuals and families should include information about creation of Go Bags and personal and family emergency kits. Patients should be advised to include an updated printed or electronic list of their drugs and dosages in case of emergencies. To ensure disaster preparedness education is provided, physicians can offer printed materials or provide information on the office website. Patients who are part of vulnerable populations (eg, elderly patients, pregnant women, children, patients with disabilities) and patients with significant health issues need individualized disaster preparedness plans. During a disaster, patients receiving chemotherapy or facility-based dialysis should be prioritized for transport to facilities that can provide these services. Family physician offices should have disaster plans that are scalable to meet needs during any type of disaster. Planning should include alert systems for patients and staff, access to electronic health records, simulations and drills, mutual aid agreements with local organizations, and personal physician and staff needs during a disaster.