FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2011
(CHICAGO) – This year began with the devastating tsunami in Japan and segued into a tornado season in the United States that has already seen more than 1,500 tornadoes — nearly 200 more than the average for the last three years. To ensure that osteopathic physicians (DOs) are prepared to treat the victims of these disasters, members of the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) House of Delegates voted today for the AOA to support disaster response training within the school’s curriculum.
Since emergency situations, such as severe weather events or man-made disasters like terrorist attacks, can create a pool of multiple casualties, the response tactics for treating these patients is much different than standard emergency care.
“Trauma care is not limited to advanced trauma life support but extends into the prevention of serious injury and the treatment of survivors, families and their communities,” says William Bograkos, DO, an AOA board-certified emergency medicine physician from Laurel, Md., who holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies, and is a member of the AOA Bureau of Scientific Affairs and Public Health, which submitted this policy. “By teaching basic disaster dynamics in osteopathic medical schools, we will be providing future DOs with the unique skills they will need to keep themselves and their patients safe when a disaster strikes.”
About the House of Delegates
The AOA’s House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 delegates representing osteopathic state medical associations, specialty societies, interns, residents and students from throughout the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers.
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
###
Contact:
Nicole Grady
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
(312) 593-6897 (Mobile)
ngrady@osteopathic.org
Mike Campea
(312) 202-8043 (Office)
(312) 730-0370 (Mobile)
mcampea@osteopathic.org
Twitter: @AOAforMedia