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The Use of Trained Observers as an Evaluation Tool for a Multi-Hospital Bioterrorism Exercise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Kelly R. Klein ,
Dale C. Brandenburg ,
Jenny G. Atas  and
Ann Maher
Kelly R. Klein*
Affiliation:
Weapons of Mass Destruction1/Disaster Medicine/Emergency Medical Service Fellow, Department ofEmergency Medicine, Wayne State University/MichiganDepartment of Community Health, Detroit, MI, USA
Dale C. Brandenburg
Affiliation:
Workplace Education and Training, Professor of Research Instructional Technology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI USA
Jenny G. Atas
Affiliation:
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI USA
Ann Maher
Affiliation:
Region 2 South, Bioterrorism Coordinator, Detroit, MI USA
*
4160 John RSuite 616Detroit, MI 48201USA E-mail: KKlein@dmc.org
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Abstract

Introduction:

Evidence suggests that regular disaster exercises have beneficial effects on subsequent mock and actual disaster responses. The purpose of this report is to describe a multiple hospital, bioterrorism exercise, evaluated by independent observers who used an evaluation template.

Methods:

The overall tabletop exercise design included participation from 23 Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations hospitals, four health departments, and a representative from one federal agency. The exercise was evaluated by trained exercise observers utilizing an independently prepared, evaluation protocol.

Results:

All exercise sites successfully identified the bio-agent involved and answered after-exercise debriefing questions without much difficulty. Evaluations, in the form of an after-action report by the independent observers, commented upon the many limitations to the construct of the exercise.

Conclusion:

Having an independent observer group at the exercise appeared to provide a value-added benefitfor capturing subjective information and data. However, these data were not in a form conducive to statisticalanalysis. Further work is needed to create an evaluation tool that would allow for statistical analysis so that exercises can be compared and improvements can be objective.

Keywords

bioterrorismemergency medical services (EMS)evaluationexerciseHospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS)observers
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , June 2005 , pp. 159 - 163
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2005

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