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Abstract |
In disasters, several national, international, and non-governmental organisations such as police, health, ambulance, fire and civil defence services are usually involved in the response process. Therefore, it is crucial that responding agencies communicate effectively to avoid fragmentation and duplication in services, to harmonise separate activities, and to clarify roles and responsibilities. Central to communication is information exchange. Effective information exchange enhances not only the appropriateness and success of disaster response, it also ensures timeliness. However, cross-agency communication is extremely challenging especially at times when there are high stress levels, incomplete data, and minimum time to make critical decisions. This paper attempts to specify a 'best-practice' model for cross-agency communication built around the specific information requirements of disaster management and disaster medicine agencies, with the aim of improving the overall quality of healthcare services provided to disaster victims. |
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