BIOTERRORISM VISITS THE PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE

Abstract

As a key component of the American health care system, the physician office could be the front line in a bioterrorist attack. Nationally and locally, the primary focus on this subject appears to be from a hospital preparedness and public health agency perspective, with little attention devoted to primary physician providers in their own offices, and those specialists to whom patients may be referred. While unrelated to bioterrorism, the recent SARS outbreak also brings to the forefront the need for physicians offices to be able to clinically, operationally, and managerially respond to illnesses that mirror the symptoms of known illnesses, but may be more virulent new organisms or hybrids of existing organisms. If the face of bioterrorism is subtle and slow in its presentation, physicians, in their own offices, could be the first providers of care. Will they be prepared, or will they be among the first fatalities in a bioterrorist attack?

Citation

Wolper, L.F., Gans, D.N. and Peterson, T.P. (2004), "BIOTERRORISM VISITS THE PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE", Blair, J., Fottler, M. and Zapanta, A.C. (Ed.) Bioterrorism Preparedness, Attack and Response (Advances in Health Care Management, Vol. 4), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 211-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-8231(04)04009-1