The Decline of the National Disaster Medical System

Publication

The Decline of the National Disaster Medical System

Abstract

The Special Investigations Division of the House Committee on Government Reform assessed the state of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), a crucial element of the U.S. emergency response system responsible for providing medical care after national disasters. The study reveals that a combination of poor management, bureaucratic restructuring, and insufficient funding significantly undermined NDMS's ability to respond effectively to major disasters. The report is based on internal reports from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, after-action reports from Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), and interviews with officials. It concludes that without substantial reforms NDMS cannot adequately fulfill its mission, posing a threat to the nation's emergency medical response capabilities.