Our attempt to disaster response for patients receiving home ventilator care

An improvement of support system for patients who need assistance in the event of a disaster is crucial. Evacuation support plan (individual plan) has recently begun to include patients with intractable disease, and specific guidelines are being drafted to establish a support plan for patients with intractable disease in the event of disaster. Here, we report our attempt to a disaster response for patients receiving home ventilator care. To examine in the event of disaster, specific methods of verifying safety of patients with severe intractable disease and transporting them safely to a shelter, a Discussion Group and the Committee on Intractable Disease examined two cases with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (those who are ventilator-bound, and those who have a gastrostomy tube). While some providers of visiting care were found to be actively involved in steps to verify patient's safety, problems such as a concentration of information at the municipal level were present. The current reality is that an ambulance, in principle, cannot be readily dispatched to provide transportation in the event of disaster. So patients must depend on neighbors and volunteer disaster response groups. In the future, evacuation drills must be conducted along with a verification of patient safety, and steps must be taken in cooperation with the local municipality to aid patients who need assistance during the disaster.