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Targeted Agenda Program: An Innovative Approach to Facilitate Progress in Disaster Health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Joost J.L.M. Bierens*
Affiliation:
Chair, Local Organizing Committee, 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine; Professor in Emergency Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Brigitte Nooij
Affiliation:
Coordinator, Targeted Agenda Program, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ferd Sturmans
Affiliation:
Chair, Scientific Committee, 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine
*
Department of Anesthesiology, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, E-mail jbierens@vumc.nl

Abstract

The Targeted Agenda Program (TAP) has been introduced for the first time during the 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine (15WCDEM) in Amsterdam in 2007 to stimulate interaction between the participants before, during and after the congress. A TAP process consists of 11 steps, starting with defining a relevant issue and ending with the publication of a TAP report based on expert opinions. Seven TAP groups participated during the 15WCDEM. The TAP issues referred to: (1) the need for health impact assessment of disasters; (2) the golden standard for preparedness for a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disasters; (3) the role of acute psychosocial first aid; (4) the 10 most important issues for policy makers to minimize health effects of floods; (5) the search for a golden standard in the treatment of wounded combatants; (6) the preparedness of health organizations for consequences of extreme weather conditions; and (7) the health problems of high-vulnerability groups during disasters. This article describes the motivation and operational aspects of the TAP and advocates that this concept can play an important facilitating role in focus, networking and enhancement of knowledge in the field of disaster health.

Type
Special Report
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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