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 Northwest Region Healthcare Coalition monthly meeting is May 11. We are using the WebEx conferencing system. If you are a routine attendee for this meeting an you do not have the WebEx calendar invite, please contact us before the meeting. The meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes will be sent on the Tuesday prior to the meeting.
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. Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network Monthly Update
About the Network: The Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network (LTC-CN) brings together medical directors and clinicians practicing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other congregate care settings, such as Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Want to know more, read here »
Join the Network
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
Nothing
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
The COVID-19 PHE is Ending on May 11, 2023 (No NEW COVID-19 PHE Waiver Requests)
Throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), CMS has used a combination of emergency authority waivers, regulations, enforcement discretion, and sub-regulatory guidance to ensure access to care and give health care providers the flexibilities needed to respond to COVID-19 and help keep people safer.
Want to know more, read here »
Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Credit: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
Credit: U.S. Fire Administration
The InfoGram
- CISA OBP Recognizes Oklahoma City, Boston Marathon Bombing Anniversaries, Lessens Learned, and the Need for Continued Vigilance
- Cyber Threats
- More
Credit: Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Credit: Virginia Fusion Center
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:
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:
Chesapeake – May 10, 2023
Newport News – May 22, 2023
Dinwiddie – May 4, 2023
Fairfax – June 6, 2023
Stafford – June 7, 2023
To register, click here.
1. HHS to Extend PREP Act Protections for Pharmacy Workers After end of PHE
Pharmacy providers will continue to have liability immunity when administering COVID-19 and vaccinations, treatments and tests after the end of the Public Health Emergency, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Alicia Lasek of McKnights Long-Term Care News
2. HHS Offer new Tools to Help Providers Fight Cyber Criminals
The Department of Health and Human Services stepped in Monday to help healthcare providers fend off cybersecurity attacks. HHS announced new resources, including an educational and training platform, to help providers mitigate the risk of being attacked by hackers. The Knowledge on Demand platform provides free cybersecurity training to the health sector workforce and is the first time HHS has offered such training.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Diane Eastabrook of McKnights Home Care
3. New Software Standards Could Help Hospitals Thwart Hackers
As of April 1, 2023, all medical device manufacturers are required to submit a Software Bill of Materials that lists all software — and hardware that includes software and open-source libraries — that creates vulnerabilities to hackers.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Jim McKay of government technology
4. Patient Killed in Golf Cart Accident at Atrium Hospital
One patient was killed and two people were injured in a golf cart accident at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, N.C. The April 14 incident involved one of the hospital’s valet golf carts that transports patients and visitors to and from the parking decks.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Alexis Kayser of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
5. Oklahoma hospital Clear of Bomb Threat, Tightens Security Amid county Turmoil
At about 2:40 p.m. April 18, McCurtain Memorial “received a bomb threat from an unknown person. The threat claimed there was a bomb placed at the hospital on the night of April 17, 2023. This threat maintained unless the hospital administration publicly denounced individuals in our county government, the bomb would be detonated,” according to a news release on the hospital’s Facebook page.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Kelly Gooch of BECKER’S HOSPITAL REVIEW
6. ED Visits for STREP hit 5-year High
Emergency department visits for strep throat infections reached a five-year high in February and March, according to unpublished CDC data cited by NBC News in an April 19 report.
Want to know more, read here »
Source: Erica Carbajal of BECKER’S Clinical Leadership & Infection Control
