1. Monthly RHCC On-Call
Each month, the NWRHCC has a different person on call to handle after hours emergency needs. Ron Clinedinst is the duty officer for April. Should you need assistance from the RHCC, please call 1-855-469-7422. To request Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), mobile medical assets, or other equipment from the RHCC, please complete the PPE and Mobile Asset Request form located here.
2. Regional Coalition Meeting
The regularly scheduled Northwest Region Healthcare Coalition monthly meeting for April (13th) is being replaced with the Medical Response and Surge Exercise (MRSE). This is a Full Scale Exercise. If you would like additional information about the exercise, please contact Ashley Shifflett.
Credit: Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
Credit: Virginia Department of Health
1. Virginia Department of Health Weekly Situation Report
The Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness offers a weekly report with key takeaways, key figures, and other information affecting public health and healthcare.
Want to know more, read here »
2. COVID-19 Pandemic
Information related to the pandemic can be found on VDH’s and VHHA’s respective websites.
3. Virginia Department of Health Weekly Influenza Activity Report
The Virginia Department of Health offers a weekly report that tracks visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for influenza-like illness.
Want to know more, read here »
4. Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program (HAI High Sign Newsletter)
Our HAI/AR Program newsletter, the HAI High Sign is published on a regular basis and distributed electronically to hospital infection preventionists, key stakeholders from other healthcare facilities and membership organizations, as well as health department staff.
Want to know more, read here »
5. 2023 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Summit
The Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program will host the 2023 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Summit on April 19, 2023 in Richmond. The healthcare coalition will reimburse lodging, mileage, and per diem for those who meet the criteria for reimbursement. If you would like to attend the Summit, please contact Ashley Shifflett, Exercise and Training Coordinator for details.
Credit: Health & Human Services
Credit: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
Credit: Hospital Preparedness Program
ASPR TRACIE Roundtable: Lessons Learned in Healthcare Communications
Healthcare and public health entities have learned many lessons about communicating to their personnel and the public after three years of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and concurrent emergencies. ASPR TRACIE invites you to this roundtable webinar where speakers representing a wide range of stakeholders and jurisdiction types (national, large/urban, regional, and rural/tribal) will share their perspectives on how they integrated these lessons into current and future responses. Topics will include channels used for outreach and continued engagement, strategies for reaching different community and cultural groups, tracking and countering rumors, and working with partners to create complementary messaging.
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) provides timely, accurate, and credible information to clinicians related to emergency preparedness and response and emerging public health threats. COCA fosters partnerships with national clinician organizations to strengthen information-sharing networks before, during, and after a public health emergency.
Want to know more, read here »
Credit: U.S. Food & Drug Administration
1. FDA Drug Shortages
Current and Resolved Drug Shortages and Discontinuations Reported to FDA
2. Medical Device Shortage Update
Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Credit: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Nothing
Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Credit: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
The InfoGram
- April is Emergency Communications Month
- Cyber Threats
- More
Credit: Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Credit: Virginia Fusion Center
1. Region 3 National Emergency Management Basic Academy
The National Emergency Management Basic Academy is the essential program for individuals committed to emergency management as a professional goal. Similar to basic academies operated by the fire service and law enforcement communities, the National Emergency Management Basic Academy provides learners with a broad foundation in emergency management policy and practice.
Where: *Central Virginia Community College
Where: **Liberty University in Lynchburg
* (L0101) Foundations of Emergency Management – August 14-18, 2023
** (L0102) Science of Disaster – September 19-21, 2023
** (L0103) Planning: Emergency Operations – October 17-18, 2023
** (L0146) Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) – November 15-16, 2023
** (L0105) Public Information and Warning – December 12-14, 2023
To view current offerings and register for these courses, please log in to the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center: https://covlc.virginia.gov/
Credit: 123RF
1. Making Mitigation Work (Webinar Series)
The Natural Hazards Center, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is pleased to present the Making Mitigation Work Webinar Series. These free one-hour webinars feature innovative speakers and highlight progress in mitigation policy, practice, and research.
Save the dates for future Making Mitigation Work webinars:
April 18, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST
May 16, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST
June 13, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST
Click here to register for free
2. Infection Prevention Education Series
NETEC has released a new education series on infection prevention and control for special pathogens. The courses in this program are designed for nurses, physicians, emergency responders, and other health care professionals—bringing you back to the basics of infection prevention and control. Earn up to 1.5 continuing education credits and complete the program in as little as 1.5 hours.
Learn More
3. 2023 Preparedness Summit
Registration for the 2023 Preparedness Summit, to be held April 24–27, 2023, in Atlanta, is officially open! The 2023 Preparedness Summit, Recover. Renew: Reprioritizing All-Hazards Preparedness, will provide an opportunity to revisit pressing issues in preparedness and share resources, shape policies, and build skills to mitigate a variety of threats. Please contact Ashley Shifflett before registering if you want to attend so we can receive approval to use money from the regional budget to pay for expenses related to the Summit. Take advantage of early-bird rates—register today!
4. CBERS 2023 – Exercise Design for Community Partners
Participants will learn the fundamental steps of how to design a training exercise and participate with other community partners in a tabletop exercise. This is a free offering by the Virginia Department of Health. The bold locations and dates are the closest to the different parts of our region (East, West, North, and South).
The dates are locations are:
Abingdon – April 11, 2023
Roanoke – April 13, 2023
Weyers Cave – April 18, 2023
Chesapeake – May 10, 2023
Newport News – May 22, 2023
Dinwiddie – May 4, 2023
Fairfax – June 6, 2023
Stafford – June 7, 2023
To read the flyer prior to registration, click here or you can click here to register.
1. CMS: Most Health Care Facilities may use 2021 NFPA Emergency Power Options, Including Microgrid
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday issued a waiver permitting most health care facilities to use emergency power sources authorized by the 2021 edition of the National Fire Protection Association Health Care Facilities Code, including a microgrid system. The categorical waiver applies to all health care facilities that CMS requires to comply with the 2012 edition of the NFPA code, except for long-term care facilities that provide life support, which must have an emergency generator.
Source: AHA Today
2. The end of the Public Health Emergency: What you Need to Know (Webinar for Home Health and Hospice)
The public health emergency (PHE), which was initially declared in January 2020, is finally coming to an end. Although COVID remains a major healthcare concern, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has declared that the PHE will expire on May 11, 2023. Healthcare professionals like you may have urgent questions: What happens next? What about the waivers enacted during the PHE? How will compliance change after the PHE ends?
Register Here
Source: Home Health Care News
3. Ransomware Gang Demands $750K from West Virginia Hospital
Montgomery (W.Va.) General Hospital CEO Deborah Hill said the health system was hit with a ransomware attack on March 1, BankInfoSecurity reported April 4.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Naomi Diaz of BECKER’S HEALTH IT
4. Another Train Derailment as History Repeats in Montana
A tank car of butane, a form of liquefied petroleum gas, derailed but didn’t release any of the highly flammable material. Work continued Tuesday to clean up a freight train derailment near Paradise that sent thousands of beers tumbling down the bank of the Clark Fork River.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Joshua Murdock of Missoulian
5. Tornadoes Hitting New Areas, Season Lasting Longer
Although the role of climate change in tornadoes is not fully understood, researchers say locations are shifting, the season is lengthening and the number of tornadoes in a single event is increasing.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Ezra Maille of Chicago Tribune
6. CMS: Lapses in Infection Control, Vaccine Compliance to Garner ‘aggressive’ Enforcement
Federal regulators have quietly put in place new, stricter enforcement measures for nursing homes that struggle to meet infection control and vaccine immunization requirements for residents and staff.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Kimberly Marselas of McKnights Long-Term Care News
