Abstract
Staffing a facility for bioemergencies is one of the more complicated issues in high containment care. The unique challenges of this environment demand a multidisciplinary team with experience from all aspects of healthcare delivery. At the same time, the goal is to minimize the number of individuals who are potentially exposed to highly infectious pathogens. As a result, the team must consist of engaged individuals who are willing to take on responsibilities above and beyond their normal duties in the hospital. Each healthcare facility must take into account their unique strengths and circumstances when designing a staffing model that is appropriate for that institution. Healthcare worker and patient safety are the ultimate measures of success for a staffing model. Provider engagement in protocol design, training, administration, and team building activities will help to ensure the successful operation of the team during times of activation. Future research and experience with new bioemergencies will continue to inform the practical and ethical issues of staffing units for the care of patients with highly hazardous communicable diseases.
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Reimers, M., Hughes, J.A., Garibaldi, B.T. (2018). Staffing. In: Hewlett, A., K. Murthy, A. (eds) Bioemergency Planning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77032-1_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77032-1_7
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