Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Disaster preparedness for vulnerable populations during a pandemic: Part 4: Pandemics: Planning for those with access
Sharon E Mace1, Constance J Doyle2, Paul D Biddinger3
1Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland Clinic, Department of Emergency Medicine; Faculty MetroHealth Medical Center/Cleveland Clinic Emergency Medicine Residency, Cleveland, Ohio. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2011-8407.
Objective:
To provide an overview of the literature on disaster preparedness regarding surge capacity with a particular focus on vulnerable populations during a pandemic.
Design:
The Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee of the American College of Emergency Physicians addressed the topic of vulnerable populations during a pandemic. A workgroup of nine physicians with academic and/or disaster deployment experience was formed. A literature review focused on individuals with access and functional needs, also referred to as special healthcare needs (SHCN) or vulnerable individuals, was performed. Search terms included pandemic, public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), disaster, vulnerable population, individuals with access and functional needs, special health care needs (SHCN), surge capacity, and communications, medical care, independence, supervision, and transportation (CMIST). Search strategies included medical sources such as PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Reviews were performed by a librarian. In addition, relevant articles from the bibliographies of included studies and more recent articles identified by committee members were included. The workgroup evaluated the literature and identified issues regarding surge capacity occurring during a pandemic that particularly impacted the SHCN population. Potential solutions were identified.
Results:
Vulnerable individuals are at greater risk during a pandemic than the general population, although potential solutions to mitigate the impact of a pandemic on vulnerable individuals are possible.
Conclusions:
Although pandemics can have significant adverse effects on the general population, vulnerable individuals have the greatest morbidity and mortality and are at the greatest risk. Efforts are warranted to better address the negative impact of a pandemic, not just for the general population but also for individuals with access and functional needs, and to find solutions that can help mitigate the consequences of a pandemic.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Planning Nursing Care I
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...