September 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

Please remember that pre-registration is necessary to receive documents
in advance and for HCC to track participation of these exercises

September

October

 
 

NOAA still expects above-normal Atlantic hurricane season

Preparedness is key during the peak months of hurricane season! Atmospheric and oceanic conditions still favor an above-normal 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, according to NOAA’s annual mid-season update issued today by the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service.

“I urge everyone to remain vigilant as we enter the peak months of hurricane season,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA will continue to provide the science, data and services needed to help communities become hurricane resilient and climate-ready for the remainder of hurricane season and beyond.”

NOAA forecasters have slightly decreased the likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season to 60% (lowered from the outlook issued in May, which predicted a 65% chance). The likelihood of near-normal activity has risen to 30% and the chances remain at 10% for a below-normal season. 

“We’re just getting into the peak months of August through October for hurricane development, and we anticipate that more storms are on the way,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “NOAA stands ready to deliver timely and accurate forecasts and warnings to help communities prepare in advance of approaching storms.”

Click HERE for full article.

Maine Collecting Unwanted Pesticides Free of Charge

 

The Obsolete Pesticide Collection Program protects Maine's natural resources and prevents agriculture pollution by promoting the safe and proper disposal of outdated, unused, or unwanted pesticides. The program is made possible by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The program is open to homeowners and family-owned farms who are encouraged to bring unwanted pesticides— including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home to collection sites in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland.

  • The next obsolete pesticide collection days will be held during October 2022, one day each in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland.

  • More details coming soon, including drop-off locations.

  • Pre-registration is required by September 26 to participate, drop-ins are not permitted.

Details including registering and supplying the obsolete pesticides inventory form, a list of banned and unusable products, storage and transportation guidelines, other disposal options are found on the BPC website www.thinkfirstspraylast.org.

See full bulletin for additional details.

What Are the Top 6 Problem Spots for Blind Testers in Accessibility Testing?

In digital accessibility, the team of accessibility specialists includes blind team members who exemplify the spirit of digital accessibility. These accessibility specialists also function as the internal simulator for groups doing accessibility testing and remediation.

Unlike most users, blind accessibility specialists can’t stop using the website or app when they encounter blockers. Their job is to find workarounds and report the details of each accessibility issue . What can they do when they encounter these scenarios? With a little patience, they can work around the problem to figure out the cause. But in some cases, it will call for asking a sighted colleague about the problem.

To read the six most common barriers blind testers encounter and how they can work through them see full article HERE.

 
 

organization Agreements

 
 

HCCME would like to thank the latest organizations to submit new Organization Agreement Forms!
• Calais Community Hospital
• Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center
• Down East Community Hospital
• InterMed
• Ledgewood
• MaineGeneral Community Care
• Maine Veteran’s Homes- Machias
• New Mainers Public Health Initiative
• The Cedars
• The Chapman House
• UCP of Maine Elizabeth Levinson Center

As a reminder, all organizations involved with the coalition are encouraged to complete the new organization agreement form as any older version of a membership agreement submitted prior to November 2021 is no longer valid.

We appreciate our membership taking a few moments in their day to move your organization along to the next step in the process to becoming an “active member”.

 

Partner Trainings and Webinars

 

Free upcoming webinars:

 

CCEMA

 

MEMA

 

ASAP

 

All Clear Emergency Management Group

L1301: Continuity Planning Course

Cumberland County EMA (CCEMA) is hosting L1301: Continuity Planning on September 14th-15th, 2022 from 0800-1600 in Scarborough, Maine. This course is instructed by the National Continuity Training Program Instructor Cadre and is part of FEMA's Continuity Excellence Series. See course flyer for a full course description and registration information.

MEMA Mass Care Sheltering Courses-Multiple Dates

MEMA Mass Care will offer a 1-Hour Sheltering Course for Local and County Emergency Management Agencies in preparation for Hurricane Season and Fall and Winter Storms. Sessions will be delivered virtually utilizing the Microsoft TEAMS Platform. The course has been created to provide staff and volunteers with information on best practices for preparing, set-up, and managing a Congregate Shelter. The session will include basic concepts of Congregate Sheltering in a Non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 environment. Course Participants will be emailed a Certification of Attendance following the delivery of all sessions.

To register, please complete and email the registration form (which includes all training date options to chose from) to william.guindon@maine.gov. If you are unable to scan the document please feel free to email him the session you would like to attend with your contact information as indicated on the form.

Global Adaptation Action – Multilateral Adaptation Action and the Global Stocktake Webinar on September 21st @ 12:00 PM ET

ASAP’s Adaptation Co-Creation Series showcases climate change adaptation and climate resilience practice across a variety of sectors and regions. Each webinar explores how cross-sector partnerships enable action and innovation on the ground to create more resilient communities, ecosystems, and economies.

Register HERE.

 

CDC

 

Partner Resources

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available for Adolescents

On August 22, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, signed a decision memo stating that Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine can be used as another primary series option for adolescents ages 12 through 17 years. This recommendation follows FDA’s authorization of the vaccine for this age group under emergency use. Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is available now, is an important tool for combating the pandemic. Having multiple types of vaccines offers more options and flexibility for the public, jurisdictions, and vaccine providers. For more information, read the media statement at CDC Recommends Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents.

EMSC

 

FEMA

 

State of Maine

 

NIOSH

 

ASPR TRACIE

 

FDA

 

HHS

 

IHS

EMSC September Pulse Edition

"How to Develop Agreements for Mass Care Services" Guide

This guide is a helpful resource for creating MOUs and Agreements for Mass Care-related and other services such as Emergency Feeding, Sheltering, and Family Reunification. The guidance includes language and information helpful to meet requirements when requesting reimbursement of eligible emergency protective measure expenses to FEMA.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Releases 2022-2026 National Tribal Strategy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released the 2022-2026 FEMA National Tribal Strategy . The tribal strategy is a culmination of tribal perspective shared with FEMA over many years. The National Tribal Strategy specifically reflects voices of 135 representatives of 78 tribal nations who contributed critical feedback during tribal consultations in 2022.

Maine Hunters for the Hungry (H4H) Program

Maine Hunters for the Hungry (H4H) is a program administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The purpose of the program is to secure wild game meat to provide to hunger relief organizations throughout the state of Maine.

Please see the FAQ's Sheet for more information.

DC’s NIOSH has launched a multiyear initiative to improve the mental health and well-being of the nation’s health workforce .

For many of the 20 million health workers in the United States, already challenging work conditions, including long work hours, heavy workloads, and exposure to human suffering and death, have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions have led to new and worsening mental health concerns, including burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal ideation.

The new NIOSH initiative emphasizes the importance of intervening before work stress negatively impacts mental health. NIOSH Director John Howard and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy launched the initiative with the webinar Protecting Health Worker Mental Health: A Call-to-Action.

Following are other resources available.

ASPR TRACIE “Introduction to the Disaster Available Supplies in Hospitals (DASH) Tool” Webinar (PowerPoint Slides and Recording)

Hospitals deal with stressed supply chains every day. Just-in-time inventory is common, and hospitals run the risk of not having enough supplies when a disaster strikes. Speakers in this webinar provide an overview and demonstration of the DASH Tool and share information on how the tool may be used from both the hospital and supply chain perspective.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Letter to Healthcare Providers Outlines Safe Administration of JYNNEOS Vaccine

On August 9, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization regarding use of the JYNNEOS vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox disease. The EAU outlines the safe administration of JYNNEOS for (1) the intradermal route of administration of the JYNNEOS vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox disease in individuals 18 years of age and older determined to be at high risk for monkeypox infection; and (2) the subcutaneous administration of JYNNEOS for the prevention of monkeypox disease in individuals younger than 18 years of age determined to be at high risk for monkeypox infection.

A health care provider letter is available that outlines safe administration of JYNNEOS based on these two administration routes. In addition, providers can also view CDC’s Video: Administering JYNNEOS Intradermally.

Qualified Providers Under PREP Act Declaration Covered when Administering Monkeypox Vaccine

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a declaration to provide liability immunity to certain individuals and entities against any claim of loss regarding the administration or use of medical countermeasures, except for claims that meet the PREP Act's definition of willful misconduct.

Using this authority, the HHS Secretary issued a declaration for smallpox countermeasures against variola virus or other orthopoxviruses on October 10, 2008, which was amended in 2016 and remains in effect. Qualified providers under this PREP Act declaration are covered when they administer monkeypox vaccine as required under either the license or the emergency use authorization regarding use of the JYNNEOS vaccine issued August 9, which includes intradermal and subcutaneous administration.

Indian Health Services (IHS) National Supply Service Center (NSSC) Receives Allocations of Tecovirimat for the Treatment of Monkeypox Disease

IHS NSSC has received an initial allocation of vaccine for use by federal, tribal, and Urban Indian Organization programs for post-exposure prophylaxis of eligible high-risk persons. NSSC has also received an initial allocation of oral tecovirimat for the outpatient management of eligible patients with suspected or confirmed monkeypox. Details for how to order through IHS are available on page 2 of the NPTC ETU Current Therapeutic Guidance on Monkeypox.

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!

Nate Riethmann