Disaster Preparedness Projects
PA DOH, Office of Public Health Preparedness Regional Medical Surge Planning
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) released its
Pennsylvania Modular Emergency Medical System (PA-MEMS) guidance,
describing the Commonwealth’s strategy for preparing for, responding to, and
recovering from incidents that result in a surge in the demand for medical care
beyond what the existing healthcare system can provide. Because this important guidance was so new to the Commonwealth’s county and local jurisdictions, and because there had recently been an influenza pandemic that required the
implementation of many aspects of the PA-MEMS — aspects that jurisdictions had not yet conducted planning for — the PA DOH Office of Public Health
Preparedness (OPHP) contracted with Delta in July 2010 to assist local jurisdictions in this planning effort.
PA DOH H1N1 Pandemic Response Campaign
Faced with the rapidly escalating H1N1 pandemic in 2009-2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) identified and activated measures to mitigate the impact of this public health threat through enhanced surveillance, risk
communications and community mitigation, and vaccine distribution and
administration. This massive effort required a swift and comprehensively
coordinated response beyond the agency’s immediate staffing capacities.
South Central Mountains Regional Task Force Plans and Exercises
The South Central Mountains Regional Task Force (SCMRTF), which includes the counties of Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, and Snyder, engaged Delta over the course of an eight-month performance period to develop several regionally based emergency plans and validate their
implementation through the delivery of a series of discussion- and operations-based exercises.
Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency EMS/Fire Strategic Plan
Delta provided the technical assistance necessary for JCESA to prepare its five-year strategic plan, developing a blueprint to ensure that the necessary staffing and financial capacity needs will be met. During a three-month strategic planning process, Delta conducted quantitative and special data collection and analyses, document reviews, and stakeholder interviews with the County Commission, JCESA, all seven fire companies, and select county departments, including the Department of Capital Planning and Management, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Planning Department.
Explosive/Mass Trauma Planning Arlington County, Virginia
Next to firearms, explosive devices are the most likely form of terroristic event with which responders may have to contend. Improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices are in the news almost daily. Their utilization is not limited to war-torn areas of the world. In recognizing the need to improve its capability and capacity to respond to a mass trauma event caused by an explosive device, Arlington County, Virginia, sought to develop an Annex to be integrated into its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
Delaware Division of Public Health Influenza Pandemic Plan Revision
Delta was tasked with the revision of the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Influenza Pandemic Plan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires that all states assess their pandemic preparedness
planning and respond with specific preparedness information in a prescribed
format. To meet this challenge, Delta assembled a team of public health planning experts and immediately engaged DPH’s Project Officer in order to revise the current plan in an efficient manner according to the pandemic preparedness
objectives outlined by the federal government.
Highland Hospital Emergency Operation Plan Review
Highland Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited mental health facility
located in Charleston, West Virginia. With both inpatient and outpatient services and operating from multiple locations in the Charleston area, Highland Hospital recognized the need to update its existing emergency operations plan and
enhance its emergency preparedness program and training to meet newly
evolving Joint Commission standards for healthcare facilities as well as further its commitment to providing a safe environment for its visitors and clients.
Somerset Hospital Flight 93
Delta conducted a tabletop exercise for Somerset Hospital that was designed to initiate a discussion of what would occur in the event a terrorist incident took place at the Flight 93 National Memorial during the dedication weekend, as well as what would occur at a seperate incident involving a suspicious device found outside of the Emergency Department. The exercise provided participants with the opportunity to explore internal issues, such as surge capacity, staffing, hospital evacuation, and stakeholder coordination, in response to both of these incidents.