In 1980 an international working party postulated a definition for a disaster. Later this concept was formulated into a classification and scoring system. This system has now been refined to be used prospectively during the management stage of a calamity. By calculating the medical severity index, which is the product of the casualty load and the severity of the incident, and comparing this figure with the available total capacity of the medical services, which is the medical rescue capacity, the medical transport capacity and the hospital treatment capacity, the dispatcher at the control center can fairly quickly and precisely identify if a calamity is to be regarded as a disaster or not and if the region can cope with the situation. Moreover a calculation of the hospital treatment capacity in the region could serve as a guideline for estimation of the dimensions needed for the medical rescue capacity and medical transport capacity when planning how to deal with a disaster.

Disaster Planning↗

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Preparation of a hospital rehabilitation system for war and other disasters.

A large number of casualties caused by war are in need of medical rehabilitation. Rehabilitation facilities are unable to cope adequately with them without advance planning and preparedness. Guidelines are suggested for the planning and preparation of a hospital rehabilitation system for war, including the formulation of policies, expanding and strengthening of existing rehabilitation facilities, and converting institutions, as well as securing the necessary human and material resources. It is also suggested that such plans and preparations should be adapted to form a basis for meeting rehabilitation needs caused by natural and civil disasters.

Disaster Planning↗

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Vulnerability of disabled and elderly in disasters: case-study of Israel during 'Desert Storm'.

Populations at risk in a disaster situation include the disabled and elderly. This large and growing segment of the population is in many ways more vulnerable than other people to safety and health hazards of disasters and has specific needs in emergency situations. The 'Desert Storm Operation' (Persian Gulf, January-February 1991) as it affected the elderly and disabled in Israel is described. Although the circumstances were rather specific, the increased vulnerability and some particular needs of this population were disclosed, and could be considered in the plans for preparedness for other types of disaster situations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

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Matrix management in a rehabilitation centre.

This paper considers an old topic from a newer perspective, that of current management theory. A high degree of differentiation is intrinsic to most rehabilitation inpatient facilities. At Loewenstein, patients are accommodated according to medical categories in purpose departments, of which medical and nursing staff are a part. Allied health professionals are organized in functional departments. Care is provided by a team derived from both types of department. A matrix organization is thus established, superimposing a patient care team (for lateral horizontal co-ordination) on the organization of functional departments (for vertical hierarchical co-ordination) and built around a temporary project, the individual patient. This organizational structure maximizes the advantages and minimizes the disadvantages of both types of department in solving the conflict between specialization and integration. It has facilitated effective and efficient vertical and horizontal co-ordination and enhanced the provision of care by a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.

Communication↗

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Risk factors and causes of stroke in young women in Israel.

OBJECTIVE: to identify risk factors and likely causes for stroke in young women, as a basis for designing a strategy for stroke incidence reduction. DESIGN: retrospective chart review for comparisons between the sexes. SETTING: general and rehabilitation hospitals. PATIENTS: all 263 patients aged 17-45 years with stroke over a 15-year period. EXCLUSIONS: patients seen at 14 general hospitals who were not referred to the Loewenstein. ASSESSMENTS: data on sociodemographic, anamnestic, and clinical aspects. RESULTS: stroke under the age of 30 years was more frequent in women, and in them the risk factors differed from those in an older population. The most frequent cause of stroke in the younger women was embolism, in the majority on the basis of a rheumatic valvular defect, whereas in young men the usual cause was atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: opportunities for preventive initiatives have not always been grasped, and more attention should be directed to such possibilities.

Adolescent↗

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A place for the family in hospital life.

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Attitude↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maximizing the benefits of "watchers" in hospitals.

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Family↗