News and Articles

From EMS to NHS: Emergency Management and Health Security - ASPR Blog

Conversations about national health security often take place within the context of the public health field. Yet medical care is just as critical to national health security. Public health is fundamentally the collective health of every individual in the community, and in a disaster or public health emergency, the nation’s emergency medical services – that “pre-hospital” care – stands on the front lines of our nation’s defense.

From EMS to NHS: Emergency Management and Health Security>>

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Training & Events

FEMA G-291 (Joint Information System/Joint Information Center Planning for Tribal, State and Local PIOs)

June 27 - Lansing, MI

June 28 - Gaylord, MI

June 29 - Marquette, MI

This course is open to all local health department, hospital and emergency management partners.

The one-day Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) G-291 training will equip PIOs, and others with public information duties, with the skills needed to establish and operate in a Joint Information System (JIS)/Joint Information Center (JIC). Participants will also gain a working knowledge of operational practices for performing PIO duties within the NIMS Multi-Agency Coordination System. The course will demonstrate how JIC concepts are applied in a flexible and scalable manner at the local level.  

These classes are no cost with lunch provided. If you are interested in attending, contact Kerry Chamberlain at chamberlaink2@michigan.gov. 

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Tools & Resources

Public Transit Emergency Preparedness Against Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases

TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Legal Research Digest 50: Public Transit Emergency Preparedness Against Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases: Legal Issues examines responses to infectious disease epidemics and identifies legal issues that may be confronted by transit agencies. It considers federal and state laws and available court decisions affecting transit agencies’ responses to infectious disease outbreaks, including potential cohesiveness among transit agencies’ procedures and federal and state guidance. 

Public Transit Emergency Preparedness Against Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases>>

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• The Michigan Update
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About the Guardian

The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness (BETP) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide its readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of citizens and communities in Michigan. For questions or comments please contact Kerry Chamberlain at chamberlaink2@michigan.gov.

Click here to subscribe to the Guardian

The Michigan Update

Measles Identified in Michigan

Nicole Parker & Tiffany Henderson, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

On March 28, 2017, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed Michigan’s first measles case of 2017. The case was reported in a Southeast (SE) Michigan resident, who had recently returned from extensive international travel. The Region 2 North and Region 2 South Epidemiologists assisted local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in the follow-up of several hospital emergency department (ED) contacts that were exposed to the case prior to the measles diagnosis. In total, there were 16 patients that were identified as being exposed to the case in the ED. LHJs notified contacts of their exposure, verified their vaccination status, and provided recommendations on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). From the LHJ follow-up, an additional 17 family contacts were identified as also being exposed in the same ED waiting area. Among those identified, 82% were either appropriately vaccinated or brought up to date during the PEP window.

Measles Identified in Michigan>>

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Research

Stockpiling Ventilators for Influenza Pandemics

Researchers in Emerging Infectious Diseases present a method for optimizing stockpiles of ventilators for use during influenza pandemics.  They utilized 2009 H1N1 data from the State of Texas as a case study to apply the model.  They also used estimates for moderate and severe pandemics.  The research shows, a central stockpile of ventilators would work for a mild or moderate pandemic, but not for a severe pandemic. Central stockpiles work as long as there is efficient transportation and staff at each medical facility that are able to use the stockpiled ventilators if they are different than the ones they already use.

Stockpiling Ventilators for Influenza Pandemics>>

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