Safety

HHS issues 'mass casualty' guidelines

Emergency Management Alert, May 17, 2005

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued guidelines on how facilities should deliver health and medical care in a mass casualty disaster.

The report, "Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events," includes the recommendations of a 39-member panel of experts that convened in August 2004.

The report tackles the following questions:

  • What circumstances would trigger a call for altered standards of care, and who is authorized to make that call?

  • What existing laws and mechanisms allow for legal, regulatory, or accreditation adjustments in provider liability, licensing, facility standards, and patient privacy?

  • What sources of relief are available to address concerns about financial resources and reimbursement of medical care costs?

  • What public communication strategies are needed before, during, and after a mass casualty event?

  • What supports are available for populations with special needs, such as children, persons with physical or cognitive disabilities, and non-English speakers?

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