Crisis Management in Healthcare (Part 4): Lessons Learned from Earthquake Relief Operations
Dr. Deepa Bhide, PMP is a physician and currently an independent healthcare IT and project management consultant. She has a postgraduate degree in Pediatrics and Neonatology from the University of Health Sciences, India. Deepa is an advocate of using project management in healthcare and related domains. She has worked extensively in the confluence of clinical medicine, IT and project management domains with hands-on experience in managing projects from conception to closure.
This is the fourth installment in the Crisis Management in Healthcare series. Read Part 1: From Food Poisoning to Community Kitchen Project; Part 2: Mid-Air Medical Emergency; and Part 3: A Rare Blood Disorder Emergency.
Natural disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and can have devastating consequences. The article recounts the experiences of a medical professional on a team that responded to the 2001 earthquake in Bhuj, Rajasthan.
From the lens of a medical professional at the relief site, the article highlights the challenges and complexities of managing relief efforts in the aftermath of a disaster, including the need for effective project management, strategic allocation of resources, and cultural sensitivity.
I emphasize a fundamental principle of utilitarianism called viz, which relays how organized and collaborative efforts can lead to more communication between colleagues and increased productivity.
I will also discuss how artificial intelligence holds immense potential to revolutionize medical care and disaster response in earthquake and other emergency situations.
The Incident
I saw the buildings reduced to debris as human cries for help echoed through the air. A sense of urgency hung thick over the region.
Equipped with my emergency kit, I was stationed at the makeshift medical camp. Women, children and men came in with …
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