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Emergency Management Alert

Issue 24, June 21, 2004

• Panel advises NIH on clinical trial conflicts of interest

  Panel advises NIH on clinical trial conflicts of interest

• Nursing jobs can hurt you

  Nursing jobs can hurt you

Issue 19, May 13, 2004 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

Issue 52, December 28, 2004

• CDC updates flu vaccination recommendations

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated last week its recommendation guide for...

• OSHA releases new hospital safeguards for decontamination

  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released...

• US still struggling with bioterrorism response

  While the government has increased funding to conquer bioterrorism threats, there is still a large...

• DHS redirects anti-terrorism funding to large cities

  The Department of Homeland Security has shifted its largest share of $3.5 billion in anti-terrorism...

Issue 51, December 20, 2004

• Selecting your decontamination team

  When you select a team of people in the hospital who will conduct decontamination, organize and...

• SARS vaccine being put to the test

  The National Institutes of Health began testing a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) vaccine...

• Study shows bioterrorism preparedness still has long way to go

  Trusts for America’s Health (TFAH) released a second study last week that showed public...

• Florida receives $3 billion in federal and state aid

  Still reeling from the series of hurricanes in 2004, Florida has received $3 billion in disaster...

Issue 50, December 20, 2004

• SARS vaccine ready to be tested

  The first US vaccine against SARS is ready to be put to the test, Reuters reported this week

• FEMA teaches about the incident command system

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS...

• Ads will educate people about the flu

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a public service campaign last week...

Issue 49, December 9, 2004

• CDC to release additional flu vaccines

  The Centers for Disease Control plan to release additional doses of flu vaccine sometime this...

• Flu vaccine problems highlight bioterrorism difficulties

  Problems producing the flu vaccine this year has raised questions regarding the US...

• CDC reports low flu activity

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in November that flu activity is low...

• HHS Secretary Thompson resigns, warns of terrorist attack

  The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson resigned last week and warned...

Issue 48, November 30, 2004

• Use the flu to test your hospital isolation methods

  Emergency rooms swarm with flu patients each year. Just like a potential smallpox patient...

• Pennsylvania ponders its lack of bioterrorism grant distribution

  With the state of Pennsylvania ranking last in the nation to distribute federal bioterrorism grants...

• Flu task forces add a layer of protection

  Task forces may help address issues surrounding vaccine shortage, the Daily Freeman reported last...

• Blackmarket flu vaccines detained at airport

  Federal agents seized 8,000 smuggled doses of flu vaccine last week at JFK Airport in New York, the...

Issue 47, November 30, 2004

• CDC survey will monitor flu vaccine shortage’s effect on hospitals

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked a network of hospitals to complete...

• Read the CDC suspicious letters and packages response guide

  Due to a large number of suspicious letters and packages being reported to federal, state, and...

• HHS to assess hospital preparedness

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will conduct a survey next month to assess...

• Biological attacks could be costly for hospitals

  Financial trouble could arise for hospitals that treat large numbers of casualties from biological...

Issue 46, November 18, 2004

• CDC to release 10.3 million flu shots nationwide

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week it will distribute the...

• Blue powder closes hospital ER

  A patient’s exposure to a mysterious blue powder shut down a Greenville (SC) hospital’s...

• FEMA unveils new truck program to boost disaster response

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a $6.7 million program last week that will...

• NJ hospitals standardize emergency codes

  The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) revealed last week 10 common emergency codes for...

Issue 45, November 9, 2004

• CDC to hold flu netconference

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold an influenza netconference on...

• Bush commits more funding to homeland security

  President George Bush signed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2005 in...

• Over 4.2 million flu vaccines shipped to healthcare providers

  The 4.2 million influenza vaccine doses shipped last week to healthcare providers are intended for...

• HHS purchases anthrax vaccine to stockpile

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded last week $877.5 million to manufacture...

Issue 44, November 2, 2004

• CDC releases new emergency response tool

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an all-hazards reference tool for health...

• World meeting scheduled over flu concerns

  Health officials from several nations will meet next week to discuss the outbreak of Asian bird flu...

• AHA meets with CDC about flu vaccine shortage

  The American Hospital Association (AHA) met last week with the Centers for Disease Control and...

• Florida disaster aid reaches $2 billion

  Federal and state disaster assistance reached $2 billion in Florida last week, the Federal...

Issue 42, October 18, 2004

• CDC offers flu vaccine information

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated information on the flu vaccine...

• CDC offers flu vaccine information

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated information on the flu vaccine...

• Rochester hospitals contemplate surge capacity

  The University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center held a conference last week focusing on surge...

• Public comment period open for HHS flu response plan

  There’s still a week left to comment on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS...

• Flu vaccine shortage increases ER fears

  Emergency room doctors anticipate overwhelming problems with sick and elderly patients this season...

Issue 41, October 15, 2004

• Emergency health professional volunteer guide in the works

  A $2.4 million contract approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week...

• Army grade chemical treatment available for first responders

  A chemical attack antidote previously only used by the U.S. military will now be available to state...

• Four contracts approved to develop vaccine that fights bioterrorism

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced four contracts last week to develop new...

• Hurricane assistance reaches $1 million

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) filed $1 million in disaster assistance last week...

Issue 40, October 4, 2004

• Tool helps hospitals evaluate disaster drills

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a tool in September to help...

• Critics say Alabama’s emergency evacuation plan needs work

  Despite no deaths after Hurricane Ivan’s brutal strike along Alabama’s coast two weeks...

• Wisconsin hospitals consider standardized emergency codes

  Wisconsin hospitals are weighing in on statewide standardized emergency codes, the Central...

• Volunteer nurses make a difference in hurricane-worn Florida

  Florida nurses worn out from the hurricane-ravaged state have received a helping hand from...

• HHS pledges 20 million doses of smallpox vaccine

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pledged last week that the United States will...

Issue 38, September 20, 2004

• Read these guides to natural disaster protection and response

  The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency...

• Read these guides to natural disaster protection and response

  The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency...

• Hurricane Ivan woes continue throughout the east

  Flooding from Hurricane Ivan forced evacuations of thousands of residents in Pennsylvania, Ohio...

• More public education necessary in terrorism response

  A study released last week by the New York Academy of Medicine showed that the American public...

• Latest hurricane hurts Florida hospitals

  Hurricane Ivan which tore into the Gulf Coast last week damaged three Pensacola, FL, hospitals, the...

Issue 37, September 13, 2004

• Report examines bioterrorism funding

  A report released last week from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of...

• Anti-terrorism dollars eaten up in lunch, snacks

  Baton Rouge, LA, officials aren’t too happy with where their terrorism funding is going. With...

• Florida hospitals prepare for third hurricane

  Florida hospitals prepared this week for another hurricane, the AHA news reported.

• Bioterrorism fears still going strong

  Medical experts still struggle with how to handle a widespread bioterrorism attack, particularly...

Issue 36, September 6, 2004

• Online toolkit prepares employers for terrorist threats

  The National Business Group on Health released a toolkit on September 1 that helps employers...

• Florida preps for another hurricane

  Florida hospitals began evacuating last week as another hurricane made its way along the coast, CNN...

• SD hospital under investigation

  The Department of Homeland Security investigated last week a Keloland, South Dakota, hospital for...

• SD hospital under investigation

  The Department of Homeland Security investigated last week a Keloland, South Dakota, hospital for...

• Homeland security chooses new training facility

  Last week, the Department of Homeland Security selected another center for homeland security...

Issue 35, September 3, 2004

• Online course available on smallpox vaccine handling

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that it will offer a free online...

• Hospitals still considering anthrax vaccines

  Many U.S. hospitals are choosing not to vaccinate their staff members, the Visalia (CA) Times-Delta...

• Terrorists may target VA hospitals

  Officials warned last week that Al-Qaida may attack Veterans Affairs hospitals, the Associated...

• Draft document outlines flu pandemic response

  The Department of Health and Human Services released on August 26 a draft document for preparing...

Issue 34, August 24, 2004

• CDC provides information on hurricane and flood response

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released information on August 13 about...

• First responders’ struggle for funding

  Almost three years after the September 11 attacks, government officials report that first...

• Hospitals watch for terrorist ploys

  With the Republican National Convention nearing, many New Jersey and New York hospitals have...

• Florida hospitals deal with hurricane aftermath

  Hurricane Charley caused major disruption to Florida hospitals, the AHA News reported.

Issue 33, August 17, 2004

• September is National Preparedness Month

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies plan to focus on citizen’s...

• OSHA seeks comments on mass casualty draft

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invites comments on its draft "Best...

• FDA approves radiation attack drug

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved last week two drugs to treat people exposed to...

• Florida begins hurricane cleanup

  Disaster-relief workers began work on Monday to rebuild communities ruined by Hurricane Charley...

Issue 32, August 13, 2004

• Don’t miss something that’s free

  Take advantage of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Noble Training Center in...

• First responders armed with nerve agent kits

  Knoxville first responders will be equipped by the end of August with nerve agent kits that slow...

• Feds probe doctor’s connection to anthrax mailings

  Federal agents are busy investigating a doctor who warned of bioterrorism attacks in the early...

• NC ready to use bioterrorism surveillance system

  North Carolina will begin using an electronic surveillance system to monitor potential bioterrorism...

Issue 31, August 6, 2004

• Check out this surge capacity planning tool

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a surge capacity planning tool last...

• Assess human exposure to chemical agents

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Journal of Analytical Toxicology released a...

• Threat level rises for specific financial sites

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) raised the national threat level to orange or high alert...

• Collapsed deck sends 70 to the hospital

  More than 70 people received injuries last week when a wooden deck collapsed at a Montana bar, the...

Issue 30, July 28, 2004

• CDC plans for massive flu outbreak

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to stockpile 4 million flu vaccines for...

• Feds make an effort to end first responder communication problems

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to get to the bottom of communication problems...

• Bush signs Project Bioshield legislation

  President George Bush signed the BioShield legislation last week, marking a step toward improving...

• White powder found in hospital elevator

  Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center officials discovered a small clear bag containing white...

Issue 29, July 19, 2004

• Recognizing illness associated with chemical exposure

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will offer a live Webcast about recognizing chemical...

• New Web site for first responders and emergency managers

  The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency created a...

• Ill passenger prompts emergency response

  An ill passenger on a flight from Houston triggered an emergency response when the plane landed at...

• Lapse of statewide emergency response plans blamed in nightclub fire

  A report found significant problems with communications between agencies and managing resources in...

Issue 28, July 14, 2004

• Surge capacity and preparedness Web conference slated for July 13

  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will hold a second Web conference on surge...

• Feds commit $100 million to rural emergency responders

  The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it will award $100 million, under...

• Smallpox vaccination best practices advised in healthcare

  The Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation...

• Foul fireworks display sends 50 to hospital

  A Pittston, PA, fireworks display gone awry sent about 50 people to area hospitals last week, the...

Issue 27, July 6, 2004

• Know the PPE you need

  When disaster strikes and patients begin to arrive, make sure hospital staff assess the situation...

• Mayors say homeland security funding improving

  ty-two percent of 231 cities still haven’t received homeland security funding or any...

• Hailstorm hits, damages Texas hospital

  hailstorm in Amarillo, TX, on June 21 significantly damaged Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital...

• NYC hospitals staff brace for convention

  New York City trauma surgeons, emergency department nurses, and hospital administrators are advised...

Issue 25, June 22, 2004

• Feds award $849 million grant for public health preparedness

  Department of Human and Health Services Secretary Tommy Thompson awarded $849 million to states...

• More communication needed among first responders

  Responses to major disasters and terror attacks must be managed by first responders better for...

• New test available to detect anthrax

  The Food and Drug Administration approved the first test for detecting antibodies to anthrax last...

• Learn how to respond to a plague outbreak

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a training module last week about plague...

Issue 23, June 8, 2004

• Learn more about mass antibiotic dispensing during live Web cast

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will feature a live Web cast about mass...

• First responder training available online

  The U.S. Agriculture Department launched a Web-based incident command system (ICS) training program...

• Read new guidelines for automated detection of anthrax in the workplace

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines on June 4 for responding...

• U.S. more prepared for bioterrorism attack, experts say

  Experts agreed a bioterrorist attack in the U.S. is inevitable but that the nation would likely be...

• What a difference a dog makes

  In a Banner Health delivery room, it took more than humans to convince a belligerent, intoxicated...

Issue 22, June 1, 2004

• Government awards $498 million to states for hospital's disaster response

  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson announced last week that...

• U.S. should focus more on terrorism prevention, experts say

  An emergency response expert said last week at a homeland security conference that the U.S. should...

• MO hospital evacuates patients after losing roof in tornado

  Northwest Medical Center in Albany, MO, lost its roof when a tornado ripped through the area on...

• Conference on psychosocial effects of terrorism scheduled for June 28-29

  The American Hospital Association will sponsor the first "International Conference on Living with...

• Experts discuss reviewing your hospital lockdown plan

  HSEM spoke to hospital security directors Earl Williams, HSP, safety coordinator for BroMenn...

Issue 21, May 24, 2004

• Free tool helps evaluate hospital disaster drills

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a free disaster-training evaluation tool...

• NH hospitals receive personal protective equipment

  New Hampshire hospitals will soon receive nearly $700,000 in personal protective equipment for...

• Trauma centers lack preparedness funding, report says

  A National Foundation for Trauma Care report released last week says U.S. trauma centers need more...

• Senate earmarks $5.6 billion toward bioterrorism fight

  The U.S. Senate approved $5.6 billion to help prepare for biological or chemical attacks last week...

• Tune in to your hospital's alternative communications

  Because communication is usually one of the first resources to fail during a disaster, build a...

Issue 19, May 14, 2004

• CDC releases new terrorism preparedness and response guide

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a National Public Health Strategy for...

• New resources available for first responders

  Two new resources, developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency...

• Coordinated resources may be best the fight against bioterrorism

  Coordinating state and local resources may benefit bioterrorism preparedness and response...

• Lieberman criticizes U.S. lack of bioterrorism readiness

  Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) wrote last week that budget cuts, poor coordination, and lack of...

• Avoid the top 10 mistakes of emergency planning

  Sometimes it seems impossible to plan for a disaster, but to help emergency planning professionals...

Issue 18, May 3, 2004

• Homeland Security takes over the National Disaster Medical System

  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Thomas Ridge announced last week that DHS will now...

• Homeland One First Responder Network headed to Kansas

  The U.S. Department of Justice awarded a $993,500 grant to the University of Kansas to install a...

• Bush talks bioterrorism in latest directive

  Last week President George Bush signed a directive outlining U.S. preparation and strategies for a...

Issue 16, April 19, 2004

• OSHA emergency management plan available

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published its National Emergency...

• Missouri first responders get ready for smallpox vaccines

  Missouri health officials are asking police, firefighters, and paramedics to get the smallpox...

• New Web site to offer vital information for emergency responders

  A web site will soon offer first responders and state and local homeland security officials lessons...

• Michigan hospitals test bioterrorism tracking program

  Nine Michigan hospitals are piloting a program to track potential bioterrorism attacks, infectious...

• How small hospitals can help your emergency plan

  Emergency drills can make the biggest difference in a small or rural hospital’s disaster...

Issue 15, April 12, 2004

• Homeland Security conference set for May

  Homeland Security conference set for May

• States slowly spending first responder funding

  A federal report released last week says states aren't spending first responder funding, according...

• Pets give bioterrorism warning signals

  Unsure if it's a bioterrorism attack? The answer may lurk in your pet. The first casualties of...

• Third TOPOFF exercise scheduled

  The third Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercise will take place in April 2005, the Department of Homeland...

• Keep up with bioterrorism issues

  This month's Healthcare Security and Emergency Management talked to infectious-disease expert Irwin...

Issue 13, March 29, 2004

• New first responder, homeland security bills introduced

  Lawmakers introduced four new homeland security bills last week, according to the National...

• Pentagon documents shows U.S. unprepared for bioterrorism

  The nation is unprepared to detect and respond to a bioterrorism attack, according to parts of an...

• Government wants to improve bioterrorism response for health workers

  Congress wants the nation's bioterrorism experts to increase the preparedness level of healthcare...

Issue 12, March 23, 2004

• Resource helps medical professionals prepare for radiological attack

  The American College of Radiology has posted on its Web site a primer designed to help medical...

• Don't forget the basics in your facility's emergency plan

  During a disaster, it's easy to forget some of the common procedures in the hospital. It's...

• Homeland Security task force to examine funding issues

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created a Homeland Security Funding Task Force last week...

• HHS looking for new anthrax vaccine

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants proposal requests for the development...

• Louisiana hospitals participate in federal bioterrorism drill

  Louisiana hospitals participated last week in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's...

• First-responder task forces requires patience, commitment to building relations

  Since hospitals officially joined the ranks of first responders-thanks to a December 17, 2003...

Issue 11, March 15, 2004

• FEMA training catalogue now online

  The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued its...

• NYC conducts largest emergency response test

  On Sunday, more than 1,000 police, firefighters, and other emergency workers participated in a...

• FDA favors drug development for smallpox vaccination side effects

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance for the development of drugs to treat...

• During emergencies, hospital will depend on shortwave radio

  Christiana Care Hospital in Delaware is preparing for emergencies through 20th century technology...

• Mass decontamination in severe weather conditions requires extreme caution

  For many hospitals, mass decontamination preparation is a major challenge. Decontamination includes...

Issue 10, March 12, 2004

• Government makes effort to enchance biosecurity in research

  The government is increasing biosecurity to prevent biological research from being used by...

• DHS adopts new performance standards to detect radiological and nuclear material

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has adopted performance standards for equipment to detect...

• Software to fight terrorist attacks in the works

  A Los Angeles-bases aerospace and defense company is developing software that tracks and analyzes...

• As federal and state officials finger point, states eagerly wait for terrorism f

  Many states still report that they have yet to receive federal terrorism funding. Meanwhile...

• Health systems not ready for disease, bioterrism threats

  A leading expert on infectious diseases and bioterrorism painted a bleak picture of the healthcare...

Issue 9, March 2, 2004 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• DHS issues standards for first responder's personal protective equipment

  The Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division adopted standards last week...

• NH purchases first responder training and communications system

  New Hampshire became the first state yesterday to purchase a first responder training and...

• Postal service seeks anti-terrorism funding

  Postmaster General John Potter asked Congress for anti-terrorism funding from the Bush...

• Hospital's play a new role as first responders

  Safety and emergency planning consultant Joseph Cocciardi, CIH, CSP, REHS, RS, PhD, discussed how...

Issue 8, February 24, 2004

• DHS launches Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program

  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the Protected Critical Infrastructure...

• Maine senator wants restoration of State Homeland Security Grant funding

  Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collis (R-ME) asked her fellow senators last...

• Partnership will help form program to track contagious diseases

  A private computer firm will use East Stroudsburg University and Pocono Medical Center as partners...

• U.K. scientists testing Black Death vaccine

  A team of scientists in the United Kingdom may have found a vaccine against the Black Death last...

• Steps your hospital can take to pursue federal first responder funding

  Looking for ways your hospital can obtain some of the Department of Homeland Security's...

Issue 7, February 17, 2004

• FEMA plans national incident management system

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this year plans to establish a national incident...

• Washington, DC, launches high-speed wireless network for responders

  Washington, DC, plans to roll out a broadband data network for emergency crews, USA Today reports.

Issue 6, February 12, 2004

• Authorities continue to search for ricin source

  Authorities continue to search for ricin source

• Former professor who caused plague scare gives up medical license

  A former Texas Tech University professor convicted in a case that arose from a bioterrorism scare...

Issue 5, February 4, 2004

• Congressional investigators call for CDC management changes

  Congressional investigators call for CDC management changes

• NYC health department seeks volunteers to give emergency vaccinations

  NYC health department seeks volunteers to give emergency vaccinations

Issue 4, January 28, 2004

• CDC plans to test bioterrorism readiness

  CDC plans to test bioterrorism readiness

• Bioshield bill expected to win approval soon

  Bioshield bill expected to win approval soon

Issue 3, January 20, 2004

• Phoenix firm develops device to detect bioterror agents

  Phoenix firm develops device to detect bioterror agents

• Anthrax outbreaks in Africa infect 200 people

  Anthrax outbreaks in Africa infect 200 people

Issue 2, January 14, 2004

• VA counties recruit volunteers for emergency response

  VA counties recruit volunteers for emergency response

• National homeland security conference scheduled for next month

  National homeland security conference scheduled for next month

Issue 1, January 13, 2004

• FDA rules anthrax vaccine is safe and effective

  FDA rules anthrax vaccine is safe and effective

• International bioterror drill reveals communications flaws

  International bioterror drill reveals communications flaws