OPINIONAMA understands need for disaster preparednessAMA Leader Commentary. By John C. Nelson, MD, MPH, Sept. 20, 2004. A message to all physicians from AMA President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH. Last month, I pointed out some of the many reasons I am proud to be an AMA member. That pride extends to the prompt, effective response AMA has shown through the years to a broad range of public health emergencies. Right now, that tradition is being expanded by AMA's leadership in dealing with disasters -- man-made or natural. I vividly remember how the need for preparedness was brought home to me. The day after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, two trains collided not far from my hometown of Salt Lake City. An Amtrak passenger train collided with a freight train near Wendover, Utah, 120 miles due west of Salt Lake City. Emergency vehicles and personnel drove pell-mell to the scene in fear of great loss of life. Twenty-five people were hurt; three of them were airlifted to Salt Lake City hospitals with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the city of Salt Lake was stripped of the great bulk of its emergency response assets. The random, uncoordinated, confused, haphazard response demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt the need for better preparation. The Wendover episode reminded me of a similar uncoordinated response to one of Salt Lake City's few-and-far-between tornadoes. In the aftermath of the storm, I looked out my window at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City to see literally dozens of medical personnel milling around outside. [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
|
Feature articlesHealth reform review The Massachusetts experience Litigation stress Being sued is personal as well as professional Comprehensive coverage
Most-viewedNov. 23 issueAMA meeting: Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform Liability premiums stay stable, but insurers warn this might not last Columns and series
From the vault: 5 years agoState tort reform ballot wins set stage for further battles Nov. 22, 2004 
|
SHARE
