Discussion Question

 Your hospital has been placed on alert for receiving patients from a  local explosion at a large factory. Reports from the scene are spotty in  terms of numbers killed or injured, and you do not know how many  patients you may be getting. News reports are calling for casualties in  the 100s, but local fire responders are sending in conflicting reports.  You need to know what your ED will be receiving, so you can determine  whether to close surgery to elective cases and to go on ED bypass for  regular patients. Rumors are swirling inside the hospital and the chain  of command about how severe the incident is and what it will do to your  ability to function. What thoughts do you have about how to learn what  you need to know in order to structure the hospital’s preparations and  continue regular functioning at the same time? What resources can you  tap in order to learn more accurately about the situation at the scene  and what you can expect to come to your ED? How would you manage this  situation to cause the minimum disruption to regular hospital  functioning?