December 2022 Newsletter
WELCOME TO THE HEALTHCARE COALITION OF MAINE NEWSLETTER
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Healthcare Coalition of Maine (HCCME) is to develop and sustain a powerful coalition of health care organizations, first responders, and other key partners united to save lives and improve health outcomes during disasters through preparedness, planning, response, and recovery efforts.
Upcoming Coalition Events
Access and Functional Needs Committee Meeting scheduled for December 6th from 2-3pm.
This month’s meeting will feature a presentation by the State of Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services on older adults as it pertains to access and functional needs.
Register HERE for the meeting.
Hospital to Home Project
CMS Exercise
HCCME’s february Joint Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 9:00 – 11:00am
Agenda to include:
* Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop
* Volunteer Request Training
* Radiation Surge Annex Training
* FQHC 101
MEMA Mass Care Offering Virtual Sheltering Identification and Surveying Course
Over 275 Facilities in Maine are identified as Emergency Disaster Shelters. A review of many of the previously identified Emergency Disaster Shelters indicates that many have not been surveyed for quite some time. Over time building features and uses change which may impact the viability for sheltering purposes. It is not uncommon to find that a facility once identified as a shelter is no longer suitable for such purposes. Assessing facility viability at least once every five years is essential to meet current shelter requirements and community needs.
Once shelters have been identified in a community, it is essential to have a Shelter Plan readily accessible in the event a Natural or Human-Caused Disaster requires Shelter for displaced residents. Shelter Plans should be reviewed on a periodic basis to ensure identified shelters are still viable.
MEMA Mass Care is offering a 2-Hour Virtual Sheltering Identification and Surveying Course for Local, County, and Tribal Emergency Management Agencies utilizing the Microsoft Teams Platform. The objective of this course is to ensure Local, County, and Tribal Emergency Management Agencies and Municipal Officials can Review and Identity Primary and Secondary Disaster Emergency Shelter Sites in their respective Communities by covering the following topics:
Understand the purpose of Pre-Disaster Shelter Surveys.
Understand how to determine the capacity of an Evacuation Center and Disaster Emergency Shelter.
Understand the importance of Access and Functional needs and ADA Compliance in a Disaster Emergency Shelter.
Identify potential facility resources and limitations for sheltering.
Understand the Shelter Survey Form and its terminology.
Learn how to conduct a Shelter Survey and what partners should participate in the Survey.
Identify resources available to support Shelter Surveying efforts.
Identify how to prepare a Shelter Plan using a Shelter Planning Worksheet.
Click HERE to view a course offerings and to register.
Maine MRC Information Session
Medical Reserve Corps (MRCs) serve their local communities to support emergency response capabilities, increase community preparedness, and strengthen public health.
Currently, in Maine, we have four active MRC units located in Cumberland County, Midcoast (Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo), Northern Maine (Penobscot, Piscataquis), and Downeast (Hancock, Washington). In addition, we are looking to re-establish units in communities across Maine. Each unit functions independently, and specific missions are led by the interests of the unit volunteers and community needs. To learn more about MRCs, please click here.
Maine MRC with be hosting an Information Session on Thursday, December 8th, from 5-6 pm. Please click here to register.
MRC units are looking for volunteers in their respective communities to join their efforts and create or enhance leadership teams. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please email Mercedes Faucher at: mercedes.faucher@maine.gov.
ASPR TRACIE Pediatric Surge Resources
This page highlights resources identified or developed to help address the current response to the pediatric surge in viral respiratory illnesses impacting hospital capacity starting in the fall of 2022, including COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza.
Partner Trainings and Webinars
ADCARE
ALL Clear
Empowering Resiliency Training on Thursday, February 16, 2023
The impact of chronic stress is a growing public health problem. According to studies from the Harvard Mind-Body Medical Institute, 60 – 90% of doctor visits are for stress related issues. Other studies show that when incorporating self-care in daily living, the utilization of medical services, health risks and out of pocket costs decrease.
Imagine, four hours to reflect on personal resiliency and develop a plan for change. Yes, that is just what EMPOWERING RESILIENCY will do for you as well as leave you with a professional tool for your own use.
Join presenter Jerri Stevens, PhD, LCPC, CCS for a live-webinar on February 16th from 8:30am-12:30pm. Click HERE for more information and to register.
All Clear Emergency Management Group has the following upcoming free webinars:
NETEC
CDC
NWHRN
EMSC
Partner Resources
Ebola Checklist for Frontline Health Care Facilities
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) developed a checklist for facilities to assess their readiness to identify, isolate, inform, and provide initial treatment for patients suspected or confirmed to have Ebola. The checklist guides facilities through a review of their immediate care capabilities and links to resources that will help improve or fill gaps in preparedness. Download the checklist here.
CDC Issues Health Advisory on Outbreaks of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Dental Waterlines
On October 31, CDC issued a health advisory to emphasize the importance of following existing recommendations for maintaining and monitoring dental waterlines. Multiple outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) infections have occurred in children who received certain procedures in pediatric dental clinics where the dental treatment water contained high levels of bacteria. CDC provides guidelines on infection control in dental settings, which contain recommendations to treat dental unit waterlines and monitor water quality. Dental providers should be familiar with these recommendations on how to properly maintain and monitor their dental equipment to ensure that dental treatment water is safe for patient care.
CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Provide Social Vulnerability Index Update
The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was first launched in 2011 by ATSDR Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP). GRASP is marking the second decade of the tool with a new interactive map and a new dataset. The CDC/ATSDR SVI can help public health officials and local planners better prepare for and respond to emergency events like hurricanes, disease outbreaks, or exposure to dangerous chemicals. The SVI uses 16 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.
CDC Releases Updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
CDC recently released updated and expanded recommendations for clinicians providing pain care for adult outpatients with short- and long-term pain. These clinical recommendations, published in the CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, will help clinicians work with their patients to ensure the safest and most effective pain care is provided. The publication updates and replaces the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain released in 2016.
Read the full press release at CDC Releases Updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain.
NWHRN Releases Healthcare Hardening Tip Sheet
The Northwest Healthcare Response Network (NWHRN) continues to work with local response partners to prepare for potential threats to healthcare staff and facilities. This Facility Hardening Tip Sheet is designed to support facilities and organizations in their active assailant preparedness and response efforts.
State and regional responses to a variety of man-made and natural hazards continues to prove that organizations are most resilient and effective when partners are pro-active in their planning efforts, share and learn from each other, and most importantly, work together.
Three POSITIONS AVAILABLE!
All Clear Emergency Management Group is searching for TWO detail oriented, highly skilled and motivated Healthcare Coalition Coordinators to join our growing team! These positions will provide coverage to the Northern and Southern Chapters by planning, implementing, and evaluating activities associated with the Coalition. Additionally, this position will recruit and maintain a diverse coalition membership with hospital, public health, emergency management, emergency medical services and other healthcare partners.
For more information, see the full job description located here. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted by email to jobs_HCCME@AllClearEMG.com.
We also continue to search for a detail oriented, highly skilled and motivated Contract Clinical Advisor to join our team! This position will serve the HCCME, by providing clinical leadership and serving as a liaison between the Coalition and medical directors/medical leadership at health care facilities, supporting entities (e.g., blood banks), and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies.
For more information, see the full job description located here. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted by email to jobs+clinical@AllClearEMG.com.
CONTACT US
Email your coalition coordinators at HCCME@AllClearEMG.com to assist you with any of your preparedness needs.
As a reminder, we recommend that you bookmark our website MaineHCCs.com and check in often as we are continually updating the calendar with meetings, trainings, and exercises!