Assessment of emergency preparedness of veterinarians in New York.

Veterinarians have unique skills and abilities that could be useful in preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies. However, veterinarians are often absent from emergency preparedness planning and exercises, and little is known about veterinarians' perceptions of emergency preparedness. A focus group was conducted among veterinarians to explore issues such as previous emergency-preparedness education, types of training needed, barriers to participation in training, and future steps to overcome identified barriers. Focus-group participants reported that they had had little to no emergency-preparedness training and had no clear understanding of what their specific role should be in an emergency. Participants also reported several barriers to participation in training and expressed significant concerns about their ability to respond in an emergency. The concerns reported include limited knowledge of zoonotic diseases, confusion about providing care for animals displaced during natural disasters, and poor relationships with other health professions. In order to respond to disasters, veterinarians require training tailored to their concerns and needs. Furthermore, partnerships between veterinarians and health care workers need to be further developed and strengthened.