Personal effects and other aspects of patient needs such as protection of personal effects, etc. are some of the additional services needed and provided. Hospitals will continue with ongoing in or out patient care needs while simultaneously serving disaster victims. Emotional Support Hospitals provide various support services to victims, their families, and to care providers as needed. In addition, the community mental health resources mobilize to assist in support services. It is well for health care providers to support one another and be aware of personal limitations.
Physical fatigue is often a precursor to emotional fatigue.
Care provider's families could be disaster victims adding to stress in providing health care services. Health care providers have a commendable, courageous heritage in disaster response working within various institutions and organizations. Students have played a role in this heritage along with staff and volunteers. Organization prior to a disaster enables more effective service delivery, and the Kansas City metropolitan area has responded to that challenge. The metropolitan system along with individual institutions review, practice and make changes on an ongoing basis to disaster protocols to constantly improve the quality of services available.