What Has Been Learned From September 11, 2001

A new study published by New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center (NYP/WC, NY, USA) examined their emergency medical services (NYP-EMS) disaster preparations and the way they addressed the challenges of communication and patient prioritizing on September 11, 2001, when New York was attacked by terrorists.

On September 11, 2001 (9-11), NYP-EMS personnel were among the first to respond to the World Trade Center site. In all, NYP-EMS departments treated 175 patients, including 22 burn patients. The NYP healthcare system treated 600 victims in the first 48 hours following the disaster. The study reported difficulties with communications systems on 9-11, including the failure of EMS workers' portable two-way radios and the inability to track the location of EMS vehicles.

There were also insufficient systems to facilitate the triage of burn victims to specialized burn care facilities; only 26% of burn patients were triaged to a burn center, even though an adequate number of beds were available. The study was published in the September 2006 issue of the Journal of Burn Care and Research.

NYP disaster preparations since 9-11 fall under two main categories: equipment upgrades and bolstered training and planning. Since 2005, NYP-EMS has operated a state-of-the art mobile communications vehicle equipped with portable radio equipment, radio scanners, and computers with broadband cellular access. All NYP-EMS vehicles have been equipped with global positioning satellite (GPS) technology in order to track the exact location of the fleet.

Since 9-11, NYP has also increased its commitment to training its EMS and emergency department workers, and participates in training exercises and planning in collaboration with local, regional, state, and federal agencies and organizations. Hazardous-materials training is provided to NYP-EMS and NYP emergency department personnel, and weapons of mass destruction training has been available to NYP-EMS workers as a requirement for all hospital-based ambulance personnel who participate in the city's Fire Department (FDNY) 911 dispatch system.

"In response to the challenges we faced on 9-11, New York-Presbyterian has enhanced its disaster response capabilities in areas including the acquisition of new equipment, and increased training and participation in disaster response exercises,” said lead author Dr. Roger W. Yurt, director of the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at NYP/WC and professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

The 9-11 attack killed four NYP- EMS employees and destroyed seven ambulances and two service vehicles.



Related Links:
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center