Message from the Head of the Emergency Operation Center

Okayama Prefecture has designated our institution as a key disaster hospital, serving as the local medical command center in cases of disaster emergencies. In addition to our state-of-the-art seismic-resistant infrastructure on our premises and our extensive inventory of disaster equipment resources, we maintain multiple senior Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) professionals who are eligible to assume leadership roles within the DMAT and include several Okayama Prefecture Disaster Medical Coordinators. In the heavy rainfall disaster on July 30, 2018, we established the DMAT operational headquarters for the southeastern region of Okayama Prefecture within our facility and successfully managed the deployment of DMATs gathered from other hospitals.

Our Emergency Operation Center proactively established a collaborative framework with various departments within Okayama University Hospital, even during non-emergency periods. Additionally, we coordinate with other key disaster hospitals in Okayama Prefecture. To this end, we routinely conduct disaster medical education for our internal staff and engage in collaborative training exercises with external organizations. Furthermore, we endeavor to fulfill the role of a research institution by advancing research in the field of disaster medicine and disseminating valuable information.

In cases of disaster, there is a rapid increase in medical demand, which may lead to a situation in which usual case standards cannot be maintained. We ask for the cooperation of all our patients, their families, and our stakeholders in implementing measures like early discharge for bed availability and rearranging the order of treatment for critically ill patients. We sincerely ask for your understanding and support.
Thank you.
 
Atsuyoshi Iida
Head of the Emergency Operation Center, Okayama University Hospital