Administrative approach to disaster preparedness in the pharmacy

ABSTRACT

Disaster planning for a hospital pharmacy department is discussed. During a crisis, the type of behavior exhibited by hospital personnel and the community can be used to predict the situation's severity and to prepare a response. During disasters, it is important to focus on accomplishing tasks by defining employees roles, establishing chains of communication, delegatilg authority to competent persons, limiting decision-making by persons other than those in command and defining the boundaries of pharmacy's involvement in the disaster. A case study of pharmacy operations during a crisis is presented, with guidelines for assessing the situation, establishing priorities, identifying resources and execujting a response. Hospital pharmacy administration must display a high degree of creativeness and responsability during disasters, but training in the principles of disaster management can be helpful(AU)