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Cellular telephones and disasters
The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Vol. 9, pp. 279-280,
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Printed In the USA. Copyright
1991
Although I agree with the authors’ ideas concerning the use of microcomputers, to depend upon cellular telephones during a large scale disaster could be a mistake. Further information on this subject may be obtained from the Baltimore County EMS System in Lutherville, Maryland.
Celluluar Telephones and Disasters
Several months ago in The Journal of Emergency Medicine, I read an article concerning microcomputer-assisted transmission by cellular telephone during disasters (Vol. 7 pp. 651-655). Although the authors concluded this could be a possible method of data transmission for the future, I would offer experience during an actual disaster. During the 1984 Amtrak disaster in Chase, Maryland, we had difficulty with our communications system (which depended on cellular towers). Due to the publicity of the event, news reporters from across the nation came to the scene, utilized their own cellular phones, set up satellites and jammed our cellular towers.
Genemarie McGee, RN, MS Administrative Director Emergency Department SENTARA Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk, Virginia
? ?Medicine and Law
addition, truly innocent physicians accused of medical malpractice could not be defended effectively without the aid of an honest medical expert. I agree wholeheartedly with the opinions of Drs Fish and Rosen. Honest opinions from physicians acting as expert witnesses should be encouraged by our profession. It is an opportunity to continually bolster our profession’s credibility and ethics.
Three cheers for Drs Fish and Rosen in addressing a sensitive interface between the professions of Medicine and Law. The medical profession has failed repeatedly in its efforts at peer quality control. Physicians who honestly and objectively review a potential medical malpractice case for an attorney are providing a service to the allegedly mistreated patient or wrongly accused physician that would never come about from within state or national medical organizations. Truly wronged patients could not recover rightfully due damages and make their way through the legal system without the aid of a medical expert who is willing to tell the truth. In
0
~
O/E = On Examination NAD = No Abnormality Detected Not Actually Done X 3152 = of 3 weeks duration X l/12 = for 1 month X 517 = for 5 days DM - = no Diabetes Mellitus HT = Hypertension IHD = Ischemic Heart Disease
and their commonly
LAP = Lower Abdominal Pain BOM = Burning On Micturition PVD = Per Vaginal Discharge or Peripheral Disease PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
=
Robert C. Mathews, MD, FACEP Assistant Professor University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine Emergency Medicine
Common Abbreviations
Below are listed some abbreviations understood meanings.
0 1991 Pergamon Press plc
Vascular
or (in some cases)
Guidelines for Letters - Letters will appear at the discretion of the editor as space permits and may be subjected to some editing. Three typewritten, double-spaced copies should be submitted.
0736-4679/91 279
$3.00 + .OO
0
Printed In the USA. Copyright
1991
Although I agree with the authors’ ideas concerning the use of microcomputers, to depend upon cellular telephones during a large scale disaster could be a mistake. Further information on this subject may be obtained from the Baltimore County EMS System in Lutherville, Maryland.
Celluluar Telephones and Disasters
Several months ago in The Journal of Emergency Medicine, I read an article concerning microcomputer-assisted transmission by cellular telephone during disasters (Vol. 7 pp. 651-655). Although the authors concluded this could be a possible method of data transmission for the future, I would offer experience during an actual disaster. During the 1984 Amtrak disaster in Chase, Maryland, we had difficulty with our communications system (which depended on cellular towers). Due to the publicity of the event, news reporters from across the nation came to the scene, utilized their own cellular phones, set up satellites and jammed our cellular towers.
Genemarie McGee, RN, MS Administrative Director Emergency Department SENTARA Norfolk General Hospital Norfolk, Virginia
? ?Medicine and Law
addition, truly innocent physicians accused of medical malpractice could not be defended effectively without the aid of an honest medical expert. I agree wholeheartedly with the opinions of Drs Fish and Rosen. Honest opinions from physicians acting as expert witnesses should be encouraged by our profession. It is an opportunity to continually bolster our profession’s credibility and ethics.
Three cheers for Drs Fish and Rosen in addressing a sensitive interface between the professions of Medicine and Law. The medical profession has failed repeatedly in its efforts at peer quality control. Physicians who honestly and objectively review a potential medical malpractice case for an attorney are providing a service to the allegedly mistreated patient or wrongly accused physician that would never come about from within state or national medical organizations. Truly wronged patients could not recover rightfully due damages and make their way through the legal system without the aid of a medical expert who is willing to tell the truth. In
0
~
O/E = On Examination NAD = No Abnormality Detected Not Actually Done X 3152 = of 3 weeks duration X l/12 = for 1 month X 517 = for 5 days DM - = no Diabetes Mellitus HT = Hypertension IHD = Ischemic Heart Disease
and their commonly
LAP = Lower Abdominal Pain BOM = Burning On Micturition PVD = Per Vaginal Discharge or Peripheral Disease PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
=
Robert C. Mathews, MD, FACEP Assistant Professor University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine Emergency Medicine
Common Abbreviations
Below are listed some abbreviations understood meanings.
0 1991 Pergamon Press plc
Vascular
or (in some cases)
Guidelines for Letters - Letters will appear at the discretion of the editor as space permits and may be subjected to some editing. Three typewritten, double-spaced copies should be submitted.
0736-4679/91 279
$3.00 + .OO