The American Medical Association on Monday announced a new program that aims to standardize bioterrorism training for doctors and others nationwide who respond to mass disasters.

The voluntary program is designed to create a single playbook or training manual for all hospitals, doctors, public health officials and military officials to avoid chaos and confusion if a large-scale disaster strikes. Preparedness training is currently available on a more piecemeal basis without much consistency, said Dr. James James, director of the AMA’s new Center for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response, which is coordinating the program. “We need to be thinking of standardization and what is required in terms of basic skills and knowledge to make our health care providers and physicians more ready,” James said at a news conference in Chicago during the AMA’s annual meeting. Full Story