U.S. hospitals are better prepared for disasters than they were before the September 11 attacks, according to a new report sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While hospitals have made great strides, many facilities remain ill-equipped to deal with big influxes of patients for large and ongoing disasters.
The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2002, is intended to enhance the ability of hospitals and healthcare systems to prepare for and respond to bioterror attacks on civilians and other public health emergencies, including pandemic influenza and natural disasters.
So far, a strong foundation has been built for hospitals to be able to respond to catastrophic situations, but the report suggests there is much to be done before hospitals are prepared to address the complicated challenges associated with those large-scale events.
To view the full report, click here.
