Disaster Response Efforts at Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital

The Great East Japan Earthquake caused unprecedented damage and led to a massive loss of life. Damage spread beyond Tohoku, and Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, which adjoins Tokyo along Tokyo Bay, suffered from ground subsidence, liquefaction, and disruption of lifeline systems [systems for electric power, natural gas, water and wastewater, and transportation]. Starting in the very early stages of the disaster, Urayasu Hospital dispatched a disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) and medical aid team. The hospital’s water supply and sewerage systems were damaged and water supply was disrupted, hampering its ability to continue providing care. Based on this experience, a disaster task force member centrally involved in formulating the hospital’s emergency response to the water supply disruption, submitted a business analysis report on which large parts of this article are based. We prioritized water uses and he cited the need to prepare for disasters. A disaster response hospital, Urayasu Hospital has established committees to prepare for disasters and it continues to conduct drills. The hospital also began operating a Rapid Response Car. Urayasu Hospital seeks to be ready for disasters by drawing on lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Urayasu Hospital seeks to improve patient survival and enhance the local emergency response system by dispatching DMATs and by operating a Rapid Response Car.