Emergency Preparedness

As part of America's vital health care infrastructure, hospitals play a key role in disaster readiness throughout our country. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent anthrax scares, hospitals have stepped up readiness efforts in order to become better prepared in responding to not only traditional disaster threats, but an even more real potential of terrorist attacks, including the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear agents.

 

As vital community resources, hospitals must be among the best prepared, alongside police, fire, rescue, and other public safety services. 

The Mississippi Hospital Association's Office of Emergency Preparedness works to ready hospitals and their employees for all public health emergencies. Joyce Pearson serves as Program Manager. She can be reached at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3228 or jpearson@mhanet.org.

 

 

*********** Taken from HHS Press Office **********

 

With full approval of their plans, states, territories and municipalities receive the remaining 80 percent of their share of nearly $1.1 billion in bioterrorism grants and can begin building stronger public health systems, covering the spectrum from stronger disease surveillance to better-prepared hospitals.

 

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June 6, Health and Human Services (HHS) approved detailed state plans for using federal bioterrorism grants to build “stronger public health systems,” including improved disease surveillance and reporting networks.

State and local governments will use the grants to:

• Upgrade systems for disease and surveillance investigation;
• Expand public health laboratory and communication capabilities;
• Improve connectivity between hospitals and local and state health departments for disease reporting;
• Enhance hospitals’ ability to deal with large numbers of casualties.

 

For more information on the survey or bioterrorism preparedness issues, please contact Joyce Pearson, program manager, at 601-368-3228, 800-289-8444 ext. 3228 or jpearson@mhanet.org

 

MISSION

 

Enhance bioterrorism and emergency event preparedness of Mississippi Hospitals

 

 

GOALS

 

• To provide support, guidance, and information;
• To promote implementation of bioterrorism and emergency preparedness plans;
• To promote commitment, communication and collaboration of hospitals with local, state, and federal agencies to upgrade emergency response capabilities.

 

 

 

RESOURCES

 

AmericanHospitalAssociation

www.aha.org/emergency/resources/hospitalready.asp

 

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC)

www.apic.org/bioterror/

 

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)

www.jcrinc.com/subscribers/perspectives.asp

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Phone: 770-488-7100 (24 hours)

Domestic Preparedness Chemical/Biological HelpLine
Phone: 800-368-6498
Provides technical assistance during business hours to eligible State and local emergency responders and their organizations.

 

 

FEMA
Chem/Bio Hotline 800-424-8802 (24 hours)
Radiological Hotline 202-586-8100 (24 hours)
Report a Chemical, Biological, or Radiological emergency incident.

 

NationalResponse CenterHotline
Phone: 800-424-8802 (24 hours)
Receives reports of oil, chemical, biological, and radiological releases and actual or potential domestic terrorism; provides technical

assistance to emergency responders; and connects callers with appropriate Federal resources.

 

NuclearRegulatory Commission Operations Center
Phone: 301-816-5100 (collect calls accepted)
Accepts reports of accidents involving radiological materials.

 

 

 

Bioterrorism agent recognition of signs and symptoms:

            Anthrax

            Smallpox

            Botulism

Emergency agency notification:

            Local Health Department

            MS State Department of Health

            MEMA

Plan for response phase – secure supplies, equipment, staff, etc.

Participate in on-going training for all hospital staff

 

 

• Coordinate the purchase and delivery of pharmaceutical caches in 17 WMD Center of Excellence Hospitals and 11 Supportive Center Hospitals

 

The MS Hospital Association has provided planning and preparedness activities to include; but not be limited to the following: regional planning, local hospital planning and coordination of training. MHA develops, in coordination with MSDH, training curriculum for hospitals and ensure delivery of such training. MHA ensures the delivery of items, specifically stated in contract deliverables of a separate subsidy/sub grant using funds from the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (NBHPP) grant. Furthermore the MHA continues to ensure communication upgrades by coordinating the placement of satellite radios in MS hospitals. The program serves all MS hospitals and many of their supporting first responders.

 

• FY 06/07 facilitated ~ $1.3 million pass-through funds toward training, communications and equipment
• FY 06/06 facilitated ~ $2.2 million pass-through funds toward surge capacity, pharmaceuticals, communications, training, laboratories, decontamination and personal protective equipment
• FY 04/05 facilitated ~ $2.1 million pass-through funds toward surge capacity, pharmaceuticals, communications, training, laboratories, decontamination and personal protective equipment

 

All MS hospitals have received training and various types of equipment through the program. Over 5000 MS hospital staff and other first responders participate in program training programs each year.