Quality & Patient Safety

Rural hospitals might be less prepared for bioterrorism threat

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, August 1, 2003

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A recent study from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health, published in the current issue of American Journal of Infection Control, concluded most health care workers believe the United States is at a relatively high risk for bioterrorism but few think their community is at risk. Researchers question how much preparation and training health care workers seek out if they feel their community is low risk.

Researchers interviewed more than 1,200 infection control practitioners, the majority of whom are nurses. Workers in the Midwest and more rural areas believe they were less at risk for a bioterrorism attack. When asked how they would obtain information in the event of a crisis, a majority said they would rely on the Internet or a telephone hotline. Those sources are not always adequate during emergencies, and researchers indicated a need for other reference material, such as CD-ROMS or pocket reference cards.



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