Japan DMAT operations in the Diamond Princess cruise ship: COVID-19 medical operation.

Kondo, Hisayoshi; Koido, Yuichi; Kohayagawa, Yoshitaka; Anan, Hideaki

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify positive effects from the Japan Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT) medical operation in the Diamond Princess cruise ship (DP). METHODS Japan DMAT dispatched and managed the medical operation for DP passengers and crew members. The records of communication logs for the DMAT were evaluated. RESULTS 472 DMAT members were responded. DMAT took 3 to 4 days to manage patients due to a lack of medical supplies at the early phase of operation. The prescription was delayed for prescription required passengers that include passengers who will be in critical health conditions without prescriptions. DMAT conducted a strategic operation and developed categorization for medical care and patient transport. Eventually, DMAT constructed flow to provide rapid medical care and prescription distributions for passengers and crew members. CONCLUSION DMAT has been required to respond to unforeseen disasters in the framework since the Fukushima Nuclear Plant accident in 2011. All the past several types of disaster response were contributed to managing medical operations at the DP. These operations are thought to reduce preventable deaths from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).