Are U.S. Hospitals Prepared for an Attack?
Hospitals have measures in place, but are they enough?
July 3, 2007 — -- Last week's news of the foiled car bombings in London was a reminder that such scenarios are not unique to the Middle East. Sept. 11, of course, saw American hospitals dealing with a terrorist attack. But how prepared are emergency departments for a similar or even smaller attack?
If a terrorist's bomb detonates in New York City, causing an untold number of casualties and sending citizens into a panic, will emergency departments be prepared to respond?
Located in two separate buildings on the West Side of Manhattan, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital expects to deal with victims of a potential terrorist attack in America's largest city.
While doctors there say they have plans in place, whether they can actually deal with an attack depends on the details.
"We can't write an 'if' for every possible scenario," said Eileen Yost, the emergency medicine nurse manager for St. Luke's-Roosevelt.
"I think we're as prepared as we can be," she said.
But then she added, "I think, depending on the situation, anything can happen."
Doctors at the hospital say they feel the staff has done all they can under the circumstances, but question whether that will be enough.
"It would be a lie to say we're totally prepared and can withstand anything that can happen. I don't think we'll ever be at that level," said Dr. Patricia Carey, medical director of the St. Luke's-Roosevelt emergency department.
But Carey stressed that the hospital has planned for a significant disaster.
"We've always had a disaster plan in place, and since 9/11 we've had a more elaborate disaster plan in place," she said.
Carey said that the hospital had planned for many eventualities but "there are always some peculiarities not planned for."
A car bombing or suicide bomber would be easier to deal with than many other scenarios, she said, because the resulting injuries would be similar to the traumatic injuries that St. Luke's-Roosevelt takes care of on a daily basis.
