Measures against COVID-19 implemented by Disaster Medical Assistance Teams in Tokushima Prefecture

Abstract

【Background/Objective】 Activities conducted by Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) during the COVID-19 pandemic included those that involved collaboration with the infection control department “inside the facility” that each team belonged to and those that were conducted “outside the facility” where each team was dispatched to. In this article, we reveal the actual status of these activities. 【Method】 Responses to a questionnaire administered to 14 medical institutions that had their own DMAT in the prefecture were used for the analysis, along with the data provided by the prefecture government about facilities that received the support of DMATs. 【Results】 In regard to activities conducted “inside the facility,” 33.3% of the institutions answered that the DMAT was “involved” when a patient was found to be positive for COVID-19 within each institution; the most frequently conducted activity, accounting for 33.3% of all activities, was “personnel adjustment”. In regard to the activities conducted “outside the facility,” nursing homes were the locations that the teams were most frequently dispatched to, accounting for 58.9% of the times. 【Discussion】 Activities conducted “inside the facility” primarily consisted of supporting the functions of the disaster control headquarters, such as personnel adjustment and command system establishment. In the case of pandemic disasters, it would appear that establishment of a disaster control headquarters may enhance collaboration between the infection control department and the DMAT. As an activity conducted “outside the facility,” providing support to nursing homes is a highly needed activity and should be prepared for in advance.