Until recently, a lack of methodical research had left those responsible for event coordination without the necessary information and tools required to systematically address risk management for mass gatherings. This deficit has been partly recognized and there is a trend to collect and communicate empirical data. Thus, several tools exist for predicting and quantifying risk, resulting in a paradigm shift to reflect these findings in security and preventive measures. However, although the risk of a incident occurring has been reduced it has not and cannot be banished. Operational risk management, and more specifically consequence management, still demands significant attention.
Traditional emergency planning has been, and still is, largely based on the assumptions of what could happen, how people will react and what it will take to manage the situation. Management tools and operating procedures are designed to reflect these assumptions and often dictate courses of action, leaving little room for flexibly when reacting to dynamic and unforeseen situations. It has also not properly appreciated the values of communication during the actual planning process and vital information, important for overall coordination and control is often lost.
Plansafe is now approaching this topic utilizing a "Service Oriented Architecture" (SOA). By breaking down and exposing operational processes, applications and data, critical services and information can be shared directly with emergency planning and response partners enabling efficient collaboration through Network Centric Operations (NCO).
Using open standards and so called "middle ware" to integrating legacy systems, existing data and emerging technologies, such as RFID for asset and victim tracking, a tighter integration of procedures and departments can be achieved. Operational processes such as patient flow management - getting the right patient to the right treatment at the right time - in a mass casualty environments are improved and can decrease morbidity.
Emergency management agencies must be able to react dynamically to evolving incidents using all the physical and virtual resources that could be available and not just those organic to their organization. They must involve, communicate to and integrate with all concerned parties including hospitals, familiarizing them with hazards, goals and strategies, and thereby accelerate and leverage their value when dealing with emergencies. Getting the right information, to the right person, at the right time not just when disaster strikes but also as part of risk communication will play an important future role in mass casualty care.
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