Operational Model of the Advance Team in Hualien County Disaster Medical Assistance Team

Summary: Located in eastern Taiwan, Hualien County is the largest county by area. This county is vast but elongated, with 93% of its land covered by mountains and rivers. Therefore, when disasters like earthquakes or typhoons strike, roads are often blocked by mudflows, falling rocks, or landslides, isolating affected areas and making it difficult for medical resources to reach them. To enhance mobility in responding to the urgent medical needs of multi-site or island-like disaster areas, the Hualien County Disaster Medical Assistance Team has formed an Advanced Team. This team includes one logistics officer, one administrative officer, and three medical personnel: one doctor and two nurses. The main goals of the Advanced Team are reconnaissance and emergency medical support. Before establishing medical stations, they provide information on risk conditions and healthcare in the disaster areas. Upon arrival in the disaster area, the Advanced Team will conduct a rapid assessment of local conditions, safety risks, casualties, medical needs, and public health resources. Based on casualties, temporary medical stations will be set up to provide emergency medical services. Simultaneously, contact points will be established to maintain ongoing communication and information exchange with hospitals, the government, and non-governmental organizations. After the above efforts, the team leader will decide whether to activate the main disaster medical team based on conditions in the area and guide them in the handover of the medical station. The author, a member of the Hualien County Disaster Medical Team’s operational unit, served as a registered nurse on the Advanced Team during two local earthquake disasters. This report shares insights from disaster site assessments and operational models used in advanced missions, exploring the differences between them. Through this experience, it aims to guide future teams in quickly assessing disaster areas to safeguard residents’ health, safety, and sanitation.