Emergency Management

This chapter lists emergencies and disasters that could affect the clinical laboratory, and identifies the elements of an emergency management plan. In the healthcare arena, external emergencies and disasters generally include meteorological disasters, landslides, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, warfare, civil disorder, terrorism, and transportation accidents. Emergency planning and preparedness are the keys to preventing interruption or cessation of laboratory services when an emergency, disaster, or pandemic occurs. The incident management system is used to manage emergency and disaster events through a flexible response regardless of when or where the event occurs. The chapter aims to evaluate the plan for regulatory compliance. The effects of a natural disaster include damage to the facility, interruption of communications, inability of employees to leave or return to the facility, and injured individuals requiring treatment. Terrorism threats pose a very complex problem for laboratories, facilities, communities, and the nation.