This core competencies list provides the disaster preparedness and response knowledge, skills and abilities needed by relevant types of hospital personnel given the current state of the art of CBRNE hazards and health care system vulnerabilities. Applying these competencies will assist hospitals in the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of disaster preparedness and response training programs.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads the country in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the adverse health effects of emergencies and disasters. This is accomplished by supporting the nation’s ability to withstand adversity, strengthening health and emergency response systems, and enhancing national health security.
On January 11, 2017, ASPR TRACIE hosted a webinar on the newly-released 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities. The webinar is archived and available for viewing on the ASPR TRACIE website.
Participants at the 2017 Disaster Planning Conference discussed potential characteristics of society in the year 2042 and the key resources, tools, and opportunities necessary to support the development of a robust, scalable, and regularly engaged disaster health volunteer workforce prepared for such a future.
What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) will host a hospitals-only webinar on June 24 from 8-9:30 a.m. (PT) to share more information about its new “APOT Audit Tool” and solicit feedback.
2016 Disaster Conference
This session reviews key concepts, including tourniquet usage, in emergency hemorrhage control. The presentation includes application and usage of hemorrhage control special situations, treatment priorities for trauma patients, and how to improvise and apply different tourniquet techniques.
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a Health Advisory on June 11 recommending that, as the 2024-25 flu season ends, health care providers continue testing for influenza throughout the summer — particularly in patients with respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, or avian influenza A (H5N1) exposure risk factors.
What’s happening: State lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom this week reached a tentative agreement on the 2025-26 state budget, concluding weeks of negotiations.
2021 Virtual Disaster Conference
Cottage Health shares strategies that allowed it to be successful in ensuring personal protective equipment for staff across its hospitals, laboratory, and urgent care centers. Presenters also shared ongoing measures still in effect and strategies currently being implemented to prepare for the future.