Primary Health Care and Disasters: Applying a "Whole-of-Health System" Approach through Reverse Triage in Mass-Casualty Management.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) framework detailing how effective management of disasters, including mass-casualty incidents (MCIs), can be achieved through a whole-of-health system approach where each level of the health care system is involved in all phases of the disaster cycle. In light of this, a primary health care (PHC) approach can contribute to reducing negative health outcomes of disasters, since it encompasses the critical roles that primary care services can play during crises. Hospitals can divert non-severe MCI victims to primary care services by applying reverse triage (RT), thereby preventing hospital overloading and ensuring continuity of care for those who do not require

SUBMITTER: Alesi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10548020 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature