In any disaster, medical practices should have a number of items on hand that might be needed during an emergency. These items include:
- Flashlights;
- Cell phone;
- Black bag with blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, syringes, and injectables;
- Refrigeration unit or cooler for refrigerated supplies;
- Laptop computer and access to patient lists, usually from a website or CD;
- Prescription pads;
- Writing supplies;
- Staff phone list;
- Billing materials; and
- Copies of your license, Drug Enforcement Administration certificate, board certification, and CV, in case they are needed for temporary privileges at a new hospital due to prolonged work stoppage.
Keep in mind this is only a partial list and there might be other necessary items you should include, depending on your location or practice type.