Disclosures: Richard A. Fontanez-Nieves, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest
Objective: In case of a natural disaster be able to present a structure plan for the safety of residents and their faculty without affecting function of the residency.
Design: Prospective study, implementing changes at the on call schedule and organization of resident and faculty before, during and after a natural disaster event. Setting : Will cover inpatient rehabilitation hospital, consult and clinics including electrodiagnostic studies. Participants : Residents and faculty of the PM&R-residency
Interventions: An organized on call schedule and management plan was created. The resident is distributed considering house distance from the hospital, if they have children, are married or live with their parents. The team that is currently on the inpatient rehabilitation ward will be the first call to stay in due to the knowledge of the patients that could facilitate any emergency management. A senior resident or attending physician should be available in order to assist in any emergency. The resident selected to do the in house on call in the day of the disaster needs to arrive at least 4 hours early and needs to be prepared to stay at least 3 more days in the hospital until it is safe to return home. The resident who will relay need if possible, to make contact before leaving his safe place. Next day of the disaster a senior resident/attending physician should try to make contact with the inhouse resident. The consult service should be restored in 2 days and the clinics in 7 days.
Main Outcome Measures: Improve safety of the resident and faculty at the same time ensuring the service is covered.
Results: Will expect to decrease residency and faculty overwork, anxiety and promote safety. Conclusions: Disasters are more common each day and the PM&R residency needs to be prepared for it. With a well organized schedule there exists less room to improvise and prepare the program for the worst scenario possible in order to effectively act when the disaster happens.
Level of Evidence: Level III
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Fontanez-Nieves RA, Crespo-Hernandez M. Creating a Contingency Plan for a Disaster Situation in the Residency of PM&R [abstract]. PM R. 2020; 12(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/creating-a-contingency-plan-for-a-disaster-situation-in-the-residency-of-pmr/. Accessed May 31, 2025.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/creating-a-contingency-plan-for-a-disaster-situation-in-the-residency-of-pmr/