Does every city have an adequate emergency response system, especially one geared for a bioterrorist attack? How quickly can it be implemented?
The emergency response system varies from community to community on the basis of each community s investment in its public health infrastructure. Some components of these emergency systems can be implemented very quickly, while others may take longer. Are hospitals prepared to handle a sudden surge in demand for health care? The preparedness level in hospitals depends on the biological agent used in an attack. Because a sudden surge in demand could overwhelm an individual hospital s resources, hospitals collaborate with other hospitals in their area in order to respond to a bioterrorist attack on a citywide or regional basis. Hospitals are required to maintain disaster response plans and to practice applying them as part of their accreditation process. Many components of such plans are useful in responding to bioterrorism. Specific plans for bioterrorism have been added to the latest accreditation requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In an
