American Journal of Disaster Medicine
Summer 2015, Volume 10, Number 3
http://pnpcsw.pnpco.com/cadmus/testvol.asp?year=2015&journal=ajdm

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Article
Examining the importance of incorporating emergency preparedness and disaster training core competencies into allied health curricula
Tammy Curtis, PhD, RT(R)(CT)(CHES)
Summer 2015; pages 223-236
Abstract
Preparation for responding to emergency events that does not warrant outside help beyond the local community resources or responding to disaster events that is beyond the capabilities of the local community both require first responders and healthcare professionals to have interdisciplinary skills needed to function as a team for saving lives. To date, there is no core emergency preparedness and disaster planning competencies that have been standardized at all levels across the various allied health curricula disciplines. Objective: To identify if emergency preparedness and disaster training content are currently being taught in allied health program courses, to identify possible gaps within allied health curricula, and to explore the perceptions of allied health college educators for implementing emergency preparedness and disaster training core competencies into their existing curricula, if not already included. Design: A quantitative Internet-based survey was conducted in 2013. Setting: Convenient sample. Participants: Fifty-one allied health college educators completed the survey. Findings: Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority of allied health college instructors do not currently teach emergency preparedness and disaster training core competency content within their current allied health discipline; however, their perceived level of importance for inclusion of the competencies was high. The results of this study supported the need for developing and establishing a basic national set of standardized core emergency preparedness and disaster planning competencies at all levels across various allied health curricula disciplines to ensure victims receive the best patient care and have the best possible chance of survival.