Following the 9/11 terror and anthrax attacks, the Federal Government established funding for medical surge capability and capacity during disasters, led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HSS) through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The Minnesota Department of Health, via the Minnesota Healthcare System Preparedness, uses this funding to improve surge capacity and enhance community and hospital preparedness for public health emergencies.
A portion of the funding that began in 2002 allowed the National Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (NHPC) to deepen its already established commitment to working together. The mission of the NHPC is to provide a collaborative environment where healthcare, public health, emergency management, EMS and other response agencies can plan, exchange information and analyze hazards in an effort to mitigate the impacts of a natural, human, or technological disaster. As a region, we work to build capacity and capability that can’t be achieved alone. Through collaborative planning, training, exercises, and coordination of resources, the coalition leads a regional effort to develop a streamlined response to emergencies.
How does the NHPC accomplish this?
- Participation agreements
- Regional exercises
- Regional capability based training opportunities
- Outreach to like-minded organizations / agencies / groups
- Response planning workgroups
- Under One Roof Conference
- Northeast Multiagency Coordination (NEMAC) (Response)