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Following the events of Sept. 11th, an office of disaster preparedness was
established at New Jersey Primary Care Association. Funding for this office was
provided by New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The goal of
the disaster preparedness program is to assist the Federally Qualified Health
Centers in being prepared for disasters whether manmade or natural. A resource
library available to all members of the Association is maintained at NJPCA
offices. Education and training programs for health centers include
bioterrorism, chemicals, radiation, and personal protective equipment. A table
top exercise in infectious disease was developed specifically for health
centers as well as an Incident Command Systems Program. New programs are added
regularly. NJPCA developed a policies and procedures manual for events of
terror for all health centers. Health Centers receive updates to the policies
and procedures on an as need basis. Via NJ LINCS, an electronic information
network, health centers are regularly informed about disease outbreaks,
immunization issues and other pertinent information.
Education and training programs are developed in cooperation with the advisory
committee that meets quarterly. All training programs are presented at
locations convenient for the individual center. Last year we were fortunate to
become of a community based initiative for continuing education. Through this
grant NJPCA was able to expand our training efforts and hire additional staff
to assure implementation of all necessary training initiatives.
The New Jersey Preparedness Training Consortium (NJ-PTC) is funded to provide
continuing education for health professionals focusing on an all hazards
approach. Through this grant we are able to offer a wider variety of training
initiatives at no cost to the health centers. The NJ-PTC is a partnership
comprised of many of New Jersey's most skilled and experienced healthcare
organizations, particularly regarding counter-terrorism and preparedness for a
possible biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear or explosive event.
Members of the consortium are also skilled in training other healthcare
workers, offering a wide range of activities that will earn Continuing
Education (CE) credit. As of April 21, 2005, NJPCA has trained 750 health
professionals and continues to provide trainings for health centers on; weapons
of mass destruction, incident command systems, fit-testing for respirators,
biological and chemical agents of terror, behavioral health awareness for
terrorism and disasters, case-based training, and personal protective
equipment.
Consultant services are available to other primary care associations on a fee
for service basis. The policy and procedures manual and a checklist for
assessment of preparedness needs and a 2 hour PowerPoint presentation about
bioterror agents are available for purchase.
For further information about disaster preparedness at New Jersey Primary Care
Association contact Miriam Cohen MS, RN at 609.275.8886, ext.16, or email
mcohen@njpca.org. or Amelia Muccio, Disaster Preparedness Educator at
609.689.9930 ext.26 (fax: 609.689.9441) or email
amuccio@njpca.org.
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