This 8-hour course, presented by The Center for Disaster Medicine (CDM) at New York Medical College, is designed to refresh and improve the knowledge and skills of emergency department and hospital-based clinicians who would be responsible for the initial triage and care of victims from mass casualty events.
Through lecture presentations based on the latest evidence and reports, group discussions, integration of the facility’s emergency management plan, and several hands-on exercises and learning stations, participants will learn the most effective and evidence-supported emergency department and hospital triage methods, initial interventions, and patient flow approaches for mass casualty events. Participants will also identify ways to improve the emergency preparedness of their emergency departments and hospitals for these types of incidents. While the primary focus is on mass casualty events, the education provided, and lessons learned will also help to improve participating clinicians’ and facilities’ preparedness for other types of disasters and public health emergencies.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
1. Understand the methodology for the initial emergency department/hospital triage of victims from a mass casualty incident and the scarce resources being triaged including use of adjuncts such as ultrasound.
2. Demonstrate the application of triage techniques including emergency department/hospital triage and initial procedure and disposition decisions on both conscious and unconscious patients.
3. Describe how patients arriving including self and non-EMS transport from a mass casualty event pose special challenges to hospitals and emergency departments.
4. Compare the most common evidence-based methods of prehospital triage used in disaster and mass casualty incidents.
5. Distinguish the difference between the approach to traditional emergency department triage and triage during a disaster or mass casualty event.
6. Describe the process of re-triage based on change in clinical status or arrival of patients with higher acuity/priority.
7. Discuss the challenges associated with the determination of “expectant” patients or those who may be beyond saving based on the availability of resources.
8. Describe the problems associated with “role confusion” among physicians who are asked to perform triage but not treatment on patients.
9. Evaluate ways to update and/or improve current mass casualty incident plans in the hospital and/or emergency department.
Accreditation Statement: New York Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation: The New York Medical College designates this live activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.