November 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
HCCME November Joint Chapter Meeting
Join us on Wednesday, November 9th from 9-10:30 am for the HCCME November Joint Chapter Meeting featuring:
* Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
* HAN & EMResource Refresher Training
* Quarterly Communications Drill
Register HERE.
HCCME Begins CBRN Preparedness Planning
An incident involving the accidental or intentional release of chemicals can lead to death or serious illness and injuries, hospital surge, and the need to protect responders, medical care providers, and community members. Bioterrorism and other high consequence biological events can result in mass casualties, epidemic illness, healthcare worker illness, environmental contamination, legal issues, and cause unease within the medical community and the community at large. A large-scale radiological release or nuclear detonation incident could result in a significant surge of patients, including those who may not have actually been exposed, but seek medical attention anyway.
The Healthcare Coalition of Maine understands the gravity of a radiological or chemical release, has begun the process of CBRN planning, and will soon begin work with our Integrated Preparedness Workgroup to draft a Radiation Surge Annex by January, 2023. The Coalition has a tabletop exercise scheduled for March 8th, 2023, to test the annex. Updates will then be made to the annex following the TTX.
Upcoming Radiation Training Opportunities:
Radiation Response and Strategic Communications training opportunities by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA):
November 1st- Sorting Out the Alphas, Betas, and Gammas of Radiation Communication
November 3rd- Radiation Perception in Public Consciousness
Courses will cover the fundamentals of crisis communication for radiation emergency themes and will take place on the dates above from 12:00-2:00 PM ET. There is no cost to register. Register HERE.
Counter Terrorism Operational Support (CTOS) Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training *NEW!
Instructor mediated online course delivery using Adobe Connect or WebEx platform. Exams will be provided online through the CTOS Learning Management System (LMS). Participants can complete course work using a flexible schedule completely online. Signing up is easy. Go to our LMS course catalog, look for the WBT Virtual series and select a date you would like to attend. Click HERE to create your free account to enroll in a course and explore other training opportunities.
PER-345 Radiation Instruments Operations on November 30, 2022 from 12-3 PM ET
AWR-140 Introduction to Radiological/Nuclear WMD Operations on November 2, 2022 from 12-3 PM ET
Additional CBRN Training Opportunities
winter weather in Maine
Maine weather can be completely unpredicable.
It is important to know about the winter weather resources available to you and how best to prepare. In this HCCME document you will find links to information to help you stay safe and informed this winter.
Responder Safety and Health Survey-2022
In the spring of 2021, Maine CDC's Disaster Behavioral Health Program conducted a Responder Safety and Health Survey to gauge wellness and determine disaster behavioral health training needs for Maine's response community. Our efforts between then and now have been driven, in large part, by the findings of the 2021 survey. As we prepare for the year ahead, we look to you to again provide this insightful information.
Your input is greatly valued! The 2022 Responder Safety and Health Survey should take under 5 minutes to complete.
Cumberland County EMA to offer ICS-300 and ICS-400 in December
Cumberland County EMA is pleased to announce two upcoming ICS courses to be offered in December, both located in-person at their Windham facility. See flyer below for additional details as well as to register, and contact Chelsea Robbins if you have any questions.
Partner Trainings and Webinars
TRAIN
EIS council
ASPR
NWS
adcare
all clear
Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Formulary Update Webcast Now Available on TRAIN.org
A recording of the SNS Formulary Update webcast will be available on TRAIN.org from October 14 through November 14, 2022. The SNS formulary webcast provides public health partners and stakeholders with an overview of the nation’s repository of emergency medical countermeasures (MCMs), including updated information on the pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, equipment, and devices for lifesaving care currently available in the SNS as of October 2022.
With added information on COVID-19 and monkeypox MCMs, this informational webinar will help participants better understand the increasing number of SNS-held products by threat and product type and how these products can supplement MCMs needed by states, tribal nations, territories, and large metropolitan areas during public health emergencies.
The webinar is for all federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial public health and emergency response partners that represent public health and emergency response stakeholders. The webinar is provisionally available for 30 days as a password-protected course on TRAIN.org. To register for this webinar via CDC TRAIN,interested participants must have a TRAIN account, which is available via http://train.org . To search and register for this webinar, enter the entire webinar title, Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Formulary, or the course ID number, 1101179. Please use launch code Update22 to view the webinar.
ASPR Hosts Infection Prevention and Control Webinar
ASPR TRACIE and the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) will host a webinar “Infection Prevention and Control: Incorporating Lessons Learned in Managing Special Pathogens” at 2:00 PM ET on Monday, November 7. Presenters will share their perspectives on how approaches to outbreaks have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters will also address issues such as infection prevention for healthcare workers and patients and mitigating disease spread. Speakers will also highlight newly developed tools and resources.
The webinar has already reached capacity so registration is now closed. However, ASPR TRACIE will post the recording on their home page under “In the News” within 24 hours of the webinar. You can also email askasprtracie@hhs.gov to request a link to the webinar slides once they are available.
2022 National Weather Service Gray Winter Spotter Training (Virtual)
Help your National Weather Service by becoming a Winter Weather Storm Spotter! Storm spotters report snowfall, ice accumulation, ice jam flooding and coastal flood erosion during Northern New England’s long harsh winters. Spotter training will teach you how to accurately measure and report significant winter weather phenomena! The free virtual training will be offered on Tuesday, November 15th at 6:00pm.
View training flyer HERE.
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.
Free upcoming webinars:
MDBH
NAM
white house
ASPR Tracie
CDC
Partner Resources
Maine Disaster Behavioral Health Newsletter - 2022 Special Edition
National Academy of Medicine Releases National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being
Recent studies indicate that more than half of nurses, physicians, medical students, residents, and pharmacists have symptoms of burnout. This publication from the National Academy of Medicine highlights changes that could be made across the health system and at the organizational level to improve the well-being of the health workforce.
White House Unveils National Biodefense Strategy
On October 18, the White House unveiled the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security. The strategy outlines a whole-of-government effort across 20 federal agencies to detect, prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological incidents, in partnership with international, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners. A fact sheet from the White House is available HERE.
New CDC Vital Signs Report Finds Inequities in Flu Vaccine Uptake
On October 18, CDC released a new Vital Signs report which found that Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults in the United States are more likely to be hospitalized with flu, as well as less likely to be vaccinated against flu. CDC is working to increase flu vaccination rates by using proven strategies to raise awareness of how serious flu can be and break down barriers to vaccination.
The report reviewed flu hospitalization rates from 2009 through 2022 and flu vaccination coverage from 2010 through 2022 by race and ethnicity from two data sources, the Influenza-Associated Hospitalization Network (FluSurv-NET) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Over the past two years, CDC has initiated programs to address barriers to flu vaccination and raise awareness about its importance, specifically among people from racial and ethnic minority groups. These include the Partnering for Vaccine Equity (P4VE) program and a targeted, national flu vaccination campaign . These programs use proven actions to help increase vaccination among people from racial and ethnic minority communities.
Read the full media statement at Inequities Found in Flu Vaccine Uptake.
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!