Lesson 2 Organization of the Health System

Study Guide

This lesson presents general rules in organizing the health system to cope with sudden natural disasters and other disasters resulting in mass casualties. It stresses involvement of the total health care system, public and private, into a unified national system. This system then becomes a network ranging from the national medical center to medical care posts, with each having its function and responsibilities. Other emphases are the importance of regional flexibility; the need for strong, visible, trained leadership; and the classification of health service institutions within the network.

Learning Objectives

Recognize that a unified health care disaster plan should include the country's official health care system; autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private health facilities, and voluntary agencies.

Explain why establishment of a network and regionalization of health services is important in times of disaster.

Know the important role of the national emergency committee or the civil defense system in uniting the health system with other ministries or systems, to function effectively in a disaster situation.

Define the five medical care center classifications used in disaster management planning.

Learning Activities

Read pages 7-10 in the manual.

Skim pages 81-91 in the manual (Annex 2). In order to develop a regionally organized file that identifies resources, capabilities and level of autonomy for health care centers nationwide, surveys such as this should be conducted.

Evaluation

Complete the Self-Assessment Test.

Notes

Lesson 2
Self-Assessment Test

Matching

Match the regional medical facility with the category of care that is most closely associated with it.

Regional Medical Facility

__ 1. satellite medical care unit
__ 2. national medical center
__ 3. special medical care center
__ 4. lead hospital
__ 5. medical care post

Category of Care

a. no hospital capacity, rural or suburban
b. treatment limited to specialized areas of medicine
c. highest level hospital
d. hospital capacity with limited resources
e. state or regional care

True/False

Indicate T or F:

__ 6. The organization of health centers for disaster situations should be planned in advance and based primarily on the country's existing normal health and medical care structure and system.

__ 7. The autonomous, semi-autonomous and private health facilities should become part of a national system for dealing with disasters.

__ 8. In case of disaster, the voluntary agencies need not necessarily adapt their activities to plans and assignments developed by the national authorities.

__ 9. The national emergency committee or civil defense system is responsible for uniting various health facilities in disaster planning.

__ 10. Organization for disaster situations largely involves facilities and practices outside of the normal medical care system.

__ 11. Regionalization should set forth a clear definition of the category, location and degree of sophistication for health institutions.

__ 12. Private health facilities should be excluded from a national system of disaster response.

Answer Key