Assignment. 16: Bohannon

 

Works Cited

Gossip, Kate, et al. “Monitoring and Evaluation of Disaster Response Efforts Undertaken by Local Health Departments: A Rapid Realist Review.” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 17, June 2017, pp. 1–11. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2396-8.

The research article, Monitoring and Evaluation of Disaster Response Efforts Undertaken by Local Health Departments: A Rapid Realist Review, highlights how local health departments are often the first responders in disasters. However, these same governments have barely developed systems in place to address and begin correcting catastrophic situations. Researchers used a rapid realist review in order to understand why local governments disaster relief efforts are commonly not successful, especially in third world countries. This method was most effectively specific to local governments to adapt to different countries' structures of governments, and varying systems in place. Kate Gossip attended the School of Public Health at The University of Queensland, and has published a variety of scholarly, peer reviewed essays concerning the subject of emergency response. Gossip is also a consistent UNICEF consultant concerning disaster prevention and response improvement, therefore giving this research credibility. The results of the rapid realist review conclude that simple, cost efficient steps can be taken in order to improve disaster response success rates. The first being the creation of a culture of knowledge concerning likely disasters in local communities, as well as standardizing evaluation reports in order to prevent mistakes in the future. This research article is useful to provide solutions to the downfalls the world experiences with efficient disaster relief, especially in less privileged countries. It provides simple solutions and helps to create a basic understanding of how emergency response fails so easily. By being more informed on these things, solutions can be more effective as well as available. 

Lehner, Thomas. “Neal Denton - Nonprofit Collaborations in Disaster Response.” Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2015. 

This podcast interview is a part of a Stanford collection of disaster relief interviews, aimed at informing the public on the non profit point of view concerning funding catastrophe relief. Neal Deaton, who is the leader of the American Red Cross, discusses the protocol for handling disasters in different countries. A section of the podcast is dedicated to the different approaches for varying countries, where third world countries get more attention from non profit organizations after a disaster. The Stanford Social Innovation Review(SSIR) is an Ivy League sponsored magazine and website that discusses world problems and varying experts’ solutions. The main priority of SSIR is to promote social change on varying subjects. This contributes to the credibility of the interview, also the interviewer and interviewee are qualified disaster experts. One being the leader of the Red Cross, Neal Deaton, and the other being the Scientific Director of Neuropsychiatric Disease Genomics at the New York Genome Center, Thomas Lehner. This podcast is useful to use as a comparison of disaster relief of established versus developed countries. It also provides another perspective to disaster management planning, which is that of non profit organizations. Which play a large part in successful emergency responses.

 

National Research Council. “Chapter 6: International Research: Confronting the Challenges of Disaster Risk Reduction and Development.” Facing Hazards and Disasters: Understanding Human Dimensions, National Academies Press, 2006, pp. 216–247. 

In this chapter of, Facing Hazards and Disasters: Understanding Human Dimensions, the catastrophic losses associated with natural disasters and the weak response programs associated is addressed. As well as dwelling on data reliability of disasters and the relationship between disasters and development. It acknowledges that while most disasters occur in developed countries, it’s the third world countries that are deeply affected by catastrophes. Considering these underdeveloped countries experience the most loss concerning lives and livelihoods. The main thesis being that, “Compared to developing countries, the absorptive capacities of developed countries are greater, the impact ratios on economies are smaller, and the recovery rates are more rapid.” The National Research Council (NRC), who authored these articles concerning hazards and disasters, is overseen by a governing board overseen by members of the three academies. The NRC has many published textbooks and is Canada’s biggest federal research organization, which makes this excerpt credible. This research and analysis focuses on the current knowledge the world has concerning disaster and disaster response, as well as a thorough review of the data collected relating to said topics. This research is helpful to understand how large of an impact a disaster has on the economy, but furthermore how much more detrimental a catastrophe is on a developing country. It is informative on disaster risks global patterns, and the review of collaborative international research. All of which are advantageous in developing a deep understanding of disasters and how different countries combat them, as well as suggested methods of how to improve efforts.

Seyedin, Hesam, et al. “Disaster Management Planning for Health Organizations in a Developing Country.” Journal of Urban Planning & Development, vol. 137, no. 1, Mar. 2011, pp. 77–81. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000045.

This research paper discusses the benefits of rehearsal for disaster in health organizations, specifically in Iran. Data was conducted through a cross sectional quantitative study, utilizing surveys distributed to health managers throughout the country. The research concludes that while there are few comprehensive plans that are preexisting, the current disaster response system in place in Iran, and most third world countries, isn’t efficient or successful. This paper introduces various solutions to improve the current catastrophe response systems, including staff training, required practice of preparedness activities, regular rehearsals, an extensive calamity management system, etc. Hesam Seyedin has a PhD from the Iran school of medical sciences, and currently works as a Professor in the School of Health Services and Information Management at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Seyedin’s research has been published in multiple peer reviewed journals, with his main research interests being disaster management, health policy, and health management. Hesam Seyedin’s extensive credentials concerning disaster response confirms the credibility of this research. The data from this research paper will be useful in building a base understanding of how to repair the current disaster systems that underprivileged countries have in place, as well as utilizing the recommendations it provides to suggest ways to improve emergency response around the globe. 

Sophie, Hardy, et al. “Systematic Reporting to Improve the Emergency Medical Response to Major Incidents: A Pilot Study.” BMC Emergency Medicine, vol. 18, Jan. 2018, p. 1–N.PAG. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/s12873-018-0153-x.

This article study was conducted in order to research ways to conduct medical responses in a quicker fashion. Specifically, it experiments with systematic reporting to compare emergency response to occurring disasters, in order to improve the response rates. The results of eight different reports concluded that EMS reaction data can be used to select the best medical response for specific disasters. This would prove especially useful in third world countries struggling with successful emergency response, considering it specifically improves the reaction tactics comparatively with the disaster the country is experiencing. The central researcher in this study, Sophie Harding, works in the Emergency Department of St. George’s Hospital. This makes her perspective on disaster response and training more credible because she witnesses it first hand. Hardy also earned a Masters degree in medicine from Stanford University, furthering her credibility on the topic. This study proves useful to my topic of research because it provides information on how to improve disaster response rates in a cost efficient fashion through data analysis.