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Health care institutions provide vital resources in the rapid and
appropriate response to public health emergencies. The events of September
11, 2001, the 2001 anthrax attacks, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
emphasize the need for regional, state, and local authorities in the NYC
metropolitan area to develop the infrastructure and coordinate preparedness
planning for the health care response to public health emergencies,
especially those due to bioterrorism.
The goal of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s
Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program (HEPP) is to identify, evaluate,
and address gaps in the NYC public health and overall health care system’s
planning for the mass care response to bioterrorism and other public health
emergencies. Supported with federal funding and administered in partnership
with the Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY), HEPP works closely with
over 70 hospitals, 200 primary care centers, 84 emergency medical services,
and key organizational partners to leverage resources and implement planning
measures that address key aspects of emergency preparedness.
Over the past five years the program has engaged its health care partners in
actively assessing their preparedness for biological, chemical, nuclear,
explosive, radiological and other natural or man made disasters. A
fundamental outcome of these efforts thus far has been a well developed
and practiced plan for improved regional integration of health care
resources during a public health emergency. Each year, HEPP builds new
linkages within the NYC health care system and promotes ongoing
collaboration and coordination between the health care system and city,
state, and other regional agencies involved in health care or first response.
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