May 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 Event
Cybersecurity Update and Best Practices for Emergency Cyber Preparedness Training
May 12th from 9:30-10:30am
During Statewide Meeting
Join HCCME members to learn about best practices in cybersecurity for emergency preparedness by Tom Walsh, Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Tom is a nationally recognized expert, leader and educator in healthcare information security, with over 30 years of experience.
Overview: Cyber-attacks to healthcare organizations are on the rise. Ransomware attacks have caused hospitals to implement their emergency management plans and in some cases, divert patients to other hospitals. Organizations that are prepared with a measured and practiced incident response capability have the best possible means to address and quickly recover from an attack. A tabletop exercise that includes multidisciplinary staff ensures greater response success in the event of a real cyber-attack. This session will address today’s cyber security challenges in healthcare and provide guidance on how to conduct a successful tabletop exercise involving emergency managers.
Are you ready for the coalition’s upcoming Redundant Communications Drill on may 12th?
When a public health emergency occurs it important that your facility is registered with the Maine Health Alert Network (HAN), a secure, web-based communication system used by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and it’s partners to exchange information within and between their respective agencies. Members include physicians, nurses, hospital staff, clinicians, public health workers, emergency preparedness and management personnel, first responders, and many others.
If you work in a public health or emergency preparedness-related field and would like to join the Maine Health Alert Network, please click here to register now. Additionally, you can follow the Sign-Up Instructions Document for HCCME members to assist you with the process. If you already have a HAN account please log in here to ensure your information is up to date. For example, if your job, email address or phone number(s) have changed, you can update those details within your account now to be certain you are ready for the upcoming drill on May12th (to be held during the statewide meeting)!
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact us at HCCME@allclearemg.com.
EMS Week
National EMS Week (May 15 - May 21) is our annual chance to thank the incredible prehospital practitioners who serve on the front lines of health care every day. It also provides us with an opportunity to bring together EMS agencies and their local communities to focus attention on illness and injury prevention and raise awareness about issues important to prehospital pediatric readiness. EMS Week falls on the 3rd full week of every May.
EMSC Day
In honor of EMSC Day, and in recognition of both the rising incidence of behavioral health emergencies in children and the need to recognize and mitigate secondary trauma in the EMS professional, the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center is hosting a free, 1-hour webinar, “COPE -ing with the Challenges of Behavioral and Mental Health Emergencies” on May 18 at 1:00 pm ET. This webinar, led by Drs. Nicolaus Glomb, Kenshata Watkins, and Mary Fallat, will explore both prehospital behavioral health emergency management and introduce the Compassionate Options for Pediatric EMS (COPE) program that provides debriefing tools for EMS after responding to challenging pediatric calls. Registration is free and open to all. CE for EMS professionals through Prodigy EMS is available and will meet requirements in either Psychiatric/Mental Health Emergencies or Pediatric Care.
HHS emPOWER Program
emPOWER in Action
Since 2013, the HHS emPOWER Program has emPOWERed communities in all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia to strengthen emergency preparedness and take action to protect at-risk populations prior to, during, and after emergencies, incidents, and disasters. Nationwide emPOWER data and tools have been used for over 220 events, and over 85,000 users have accessed the HHS emPOWER Map. Click HERE to learn more about how communities are advancing emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.
Maine Responds Volunteer Infographic
In honor of National Volunteer Month in April, Maine Responds released an infographic depicting the role Maine Responds Volunteers have had during this pandemic.
Over the course of the pandemic response a total of 40,840 hours of Maine Responds volunteer time has been logged, inclusive of 6,818 shifts. The total monetary value of volunteer time provided to support Maine CDC’s pandemic response ranges between $1.2 million to $1.5 million depending on whether a flat nationally recognized volunteer rate is applied or more specific rates, based on credentials and roles, is applied. Regardless, the magnitude of the effort is staggering.
Click HERE to learn more about the Maine Responds volunteer program or to sign up.
Organization agreements
HCCME would like to thank the latest organizations to submit new Organization Agreement Forms!
• Horizons Living and Rehab Center
• Mid Coast Hospital
• Northern Light AR Gould Hospital
• Southridge Rehab and Living Center
• Woodlawn Rehabilitation and Nursing 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
All Clear Emergency Management Group
Free upcoming webinars:
NEMSAC
FEMA
National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC) Meeting Webcast May 11-12
NEMSAC will host a virtual meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, May 11-12, 2022. Members of the public can register for the webcast here. The NEMSAC meets several times each year to discuss issues facing the EMS community. Members of NEMSAC provide counsel and recommendations regarding EMS to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).
Daily agendas include time for NEMSAC subcommittee deliberations in the morning and the publicly webcasted portion of the meetings begin at 1:00 pm ET, Wednesday, May 11, 2022, and 12:00 pm ET on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Items on the agenda include:
Updates from Federal Emergency Services Liaisons
Discussion about FICEMS & NHTSA Initiatives
Subcommittee Reports
Public comment
FEMA Preparedness Toolkit, Continuous Improvement Technical Assistance Program(CIP/CITAP)- Webinar Series
Achieving Results with Open-Text Survey Data- May 11th @ 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Continuous Improvement Walkthrough- June 1st @ 12:00-1:00 PM ET
Improvement Action Tracking- June 29th @ 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Registration HERE for all webinars in series.
Prepare Before a Disaster
FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) is offering a series of one-hour trainings on the federal procurement rules applicable to recipients and subrecipients when purchasing in support of a FEMA grant award or declaration. These virtual trainings will be facilitated by GPD’s Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) and will be offered on most Wednesdays from February through June 2022.
Wednesday, May 11 from 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
Registration Information
CDC
TeleECHO Program
ASTHO
Weekly National COVID-19 Call Series
CDC hosts a weekly series of national calls with state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) partners to deliver the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak and U.S. preparedness efforts. Occurs every Monday from 2:00-2:45 PM ET. Connection Information.
First Responder Resiliency TeleECHO Program
The First Responder Resiliency ECHO Program is aimed at increasing self-care and resiliency in crisis. This interdisciplinary team, led by a group of subject matter experts including Dr. George Everly, an internationally acknowledged disaster psychologist, and Dr. Jeff Katzman, a leading expert in trauma and resiliency, has expertise in a variety of specialties including: critical incidence trauma care, psychiatry, emergency and pre-hospital medicine, law enforcement mental health, and pastoral care. These sessions are held every other Monday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET. Register HERE
2022 Public Health TechXpo
The TechXpo provides the opportunity for public health professionals, health care leaders, industry experts, technology pioneers, policymakers, and investors to address the challenges facing public health data and technology in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two-Day Virtual Conference on Tuesday, May 10 - May 11th, 2022
Registration Information
Partner Resources
ASPR TRACIE
EMSC
ASPR TRACIE Hurricane Resources Page
In preparation for hurricane season, ASPR TRACIE has refreshed several hurricane-related resources, including After the Flood: Mold-Specific Resources and Healthcare System Preparedness for Secondary Disasters during COVID-19. Check out ASPR TRACIE's Hurricane Resources page for more information.
COVID-19 Guidance, Reports, and Resources
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!