ASPR Visits the Michigan Hospital Preparedness Program

Kerry Chamberlain, PhD, MPH – Outreach, Evaluation and Exercise Liaison – Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness

On October 4, 2018 Dr. Kevin Yeskey, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary to the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Jack Herrmann, Director, Division of External Stakeholder Engagement, ASPR and Lieutenant Commander Duane Wagner, Federal Project Officer visited Michigan to see first-hand the impact the hospital preparedness program has had on healthcare coalition development. 

ASPR representatives visit the Special Pathogens Response Network Unit at Detroit Receiving Hospital

The ASPR representatives spent the day in Southeast Michigan learning about the many resources for healthcare preparedness. Starting the day off by attending Region 2 South Healthcare Coalition Advisory Board meeting, which demonstrated the many different partners that participate from local hospitals, Emergency Management, public health, long term care, EMS and more. They were able to tour one of the Region 2 South warehouses that houses the 100-bed Michigan Transportable Emergency Surge Assistance (MITESA) unit and regional, deployable trailers.  They visited a special pathogen response network (SPRN) unit at one of the local hospitals.  The Regional Medical Directors presented on the response to real events that have taken place recently as well as an overview of Michigan’s burn surge plan by the State Burn Coordinating Center representative. 

According to Jack Herrmann, “We were heartened to see the commitment and passion of Dr. Atas and the other Regional Medical Directors as they described their accomplishments, challenges, and plans for strengthening disaster preparedness, response, and recovery planning for their regions.  While building preparedness at the national, state, and local community levels is a continuous cycle, and we all are challenged to critically assess, evaluate and learn where we can strengthen our efforts, you should be proud of what you have accomplished and the citizens of Michigan indebted to what you and your team have done to date and continue to do every day to ensure they are protected and safe from the threat of disasters and all emergencies.” 

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.

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This publication was supported by the Cooperative Agreement number, CDC-RFA TP12-1201, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

MDHHS Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness | PO Box 30207 | Lansing | MI | 48909