When it happens to you—will you be able to respond? NJPCA can teach you how.

Nothing brings a facility to its knees faster than a disaster. Your resources might be overwhelmed by a disease outbreak or by casualties from an attack or explosion. Half your staff may be unable to reach the facility because of an event. The facility might become disabled by flood or power outage, stranding patients. There are so many possibilities. And, if you aren’t prepared for all of them, the disaster will be compounded by another disaster—your disastrous response. NJPCA can ensure that you won’t be caught by surprise.

In a disaster, EVERY member of your Center’s staff will be required to respond. Everyone must know their role and how to execute it. A disaster may strain your facility in many ways: personnel, resources, patient safety and caseload. And, the threats to health care facilities are incredibly varied: from radiological effects to mass casualties to infectious disease outbreaks. NJPCA’s courses cover all the crucial disaster topics, including:

• IS 100 (Incident Command System-Beginner)—All Health Centers are mandated to take this course as established by NIMS Element 11. This course assists Centers in establishing an Incident Command Team and basic command/control functions in an emergency.
  
  
• IS 200 (Incident Command System-Intermediate)— All Health Centers are mandated to take this course as established by NIMS Element 11. This course builds upon IS 100 and further instills the principles of ICS and ICS’s application in an emergency.
  
  
• IS 700 (National Incident Management System)— All Health Centers are mandated to take this course as established by NIMS Element 9. This course assists Centers by unifying their preparedness efforts and coordinating their response activities under a multi-jurisdictional system.
  
  
• IS 800 (National Response Framework)— All Health Centers are mandated to take this course as established by NIMS Element 10. This course explains the federal response mechanisms and how local, State and other agencies work together in Federally declared disasters.
  
  
• Personal Disaster Preparedness—This is a basic disaster awareness course that aids CHC staff to prepare personally for a disaster. Staffers create emergency communication plans, family disaster plans, emergency go bags, and pet supply kits.
  
  
• Pandemic Influenza Table Top Exercise with Simulator Mannequins—This three-hour tabletop educates CHC staff on pandemic influenza and examines how the Health Center would handle a pandemic influenza based on the Center’s emergency operation plans and standard operating protocols. Simulators are used to demonstrate the symptoms of pandemic influenza and providers receive hands on experience vis-à-vis the clinical presentation on the simulators.
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment and Fit-Testing—This course assists CHC in donning and doffing their PPE and provides fit-testing on their N-95 respirators.
  
  
• Weapons of Mass Destruction Overview—This course provides an overview of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters. CHC staff learn about category A Bioterrorism agents, various chemical agents, acute radiological syndrome and how to recognize and treat these events.
  
  
• Crisis Communication—This course prepares CHC staff to speak in a disaster. By providing brief but accurate and reliable information in an empathic manner, CHC can assist their patients in an emergency situation.
  
  
• Soft Target Awareness—This course provides participants with the seven signs of terrorism and teaches attendees how to recognize these signs and how to report them.
  
  
• Psychological First Aid—This course offers self-care information to CHC staff responsible for working during an emergency situation. Staffers learn how to manage the stress and anxiety of a disaster and how to more effectively handle those impacted by the disaster.
  
  
• SORA (Security Officer Course)—This course assists CHC by establishing security protocols for an emergency situation. Participants will be registered Security Officers with the State of New Jersey.
  
  

NJPCA training isn’t just another lecture. It is case-based and uses real-life situations applicable to your Center. Your staff participates in simulations and multi-disciplinary exercises designed to help you learn how to apply best practices in disaster preparation and response. NJPCA is sensitive to the demands of running a Federally Qualified Health Center and conducts training to your schedule. We make it easy for you to make time for this crucial training.

The New Jersey Primary Care Association provides the Federally Qualified Health Centers will the skills they need to successfully prepare, respond, and recover in the event of a natural of manmade disaster. NJPCA provides Centers with a Resource Center, policies and procedures, continuing education and training.

For further information at New Jersey Primary Care Association contact Amelia Muccio, Director of Disaster Planning at 609.689.9930 ext.26 (fax: 609.689.9941) or email amuccio@njpca.org.