November 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the Vermont Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coalition Newsletter
November 2022
As a valued partner of the Vermont Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coalition (VHEPC), you will receive this quarterly newsletter highlighting coalition business, upcoming events and preparedness resources. As a reminder, we recommend that you bookmark the VHEPC website calendar and check it often. We are continually curating the calendar with meetings, trainings and exercises.
Our Mission
Our coalition is a multi-disciplinary partnership collaborating with our members, stakeholders, and surrounding communities to improve and expand emergency preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. The VHEPC works with healthcare entities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies in the state of Vermont.
VHEPC Announcements and Upcoming Events
VHEPC Quarter 2 Full Coalition Meeting
Click on the Flyer to Register!
November 10, 2022
10:00AM to 12:00PM EST
VHEPC Radiation & Chemical TTX
Click on the Flyer to Register!
February 9, 2023
10:00AM to 2:00PM EST
Vermont EMS for Children: Pediatric Case Review
Burn Management in Children
December 14, 2022
7:00PM EST
2023-24 VHEPC Election Updates
VHEPC will be looking for an Executive Committee Co-Chair for FY 2023-24. Start thinking of potential candidates that would be willing to fill this role. You can always nominate yourself!
VHEPC Co-Chair role:
Serve in the Co-Chair position for a two-year term
Assist the Chair in Coalition business
Attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings and provide approvals to coalition budget and work plan
Participate in active coalition work groups
After a one-year term, the Co-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair for the next grant year
Webinars and Education
The Times They Are a Changin’. So, What’s Your Plan?
Is your agency swimming or sinking like a stone? Many sink each year. As we navigate the issues plaguing EMS, and look to create viable and sustainable systems, have you conducted an honest assessment of your agency? Where does it stand, and does it have a future? Join Travis as he outlines trending issues and discusses 5 critical must-do's for any organization that wants to survive and thrive, while being part of the solution.
Travis Howe, EMT, CIC
November 10, 2022 from 7:00PM - 8:30PM EST
Anaphylaxis - They never taught me that! Critical updates for life-threatening emergencies.
Session Description: What’s the difference between anaphylactic and anaphylactoid, and should I care? Can a patient have a life-threatening reaction on a first exposure? What are the most important ALS medications for anaphylaxis after epinephrine? How bad is it to give epinephrine for a panic attack? What the heck is Kounis syndrome? Why didn't they teach me this in class? The past ten years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of cases of anaphylaxis across the United States. In response, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the World Allergy Organization have issued important updates on initial emergency treatment for patients suffering from anaphylaxis. While epinephrine remains the front-line drug for all levels of care, recent studies show that in-hospital and pre-hospital providers alike aren’t giving it as often or as early as they should. This interactive case-study and pub-quiz style presentation answers these questions and many more with a focus on a rapid differential of anaphylaxis and effective initial and secondary treatments to manage these immediately life-threatening emergencies.
Rommie Duckworth, BS, LP
December 5, 2022 from 7PM - 8:30PM ET
ASPR Hosts Infection Prevention and Control Webinar
ASPR TRACIE and the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) will host a webinar “Infection Prevention and Control: Incorporating Lessons Learned in Managing Special Pathogens” at 2:00 PM ET on Monday, November 7. Presenters will share their perspectives on how approaches to outbreaks have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters will also address issues such as infection prevention for healthcare workers and patients and mitigating disease spread. Speakers will also highlight newly developed tools and resources. Register for the webinar, using the link below.
November 7, 2022 at 2:00PM EST
First Responder Resiliency TeleECHO Program
The First Responder Resiliency ECHO Program is aimed at increasing self-care and resiliency in crisis. This interdisciplinary team, led by a group of subject matter experts including Dr. George Everly, an internationally acknowledged disaster psychologist, and Dr. Jeff Katzman, a leading expert in trauma and resiliency, has expertise in a variety of specialties including: critical incidence trauma care, psychiatry, emergency and pre-hospital medicine, law enforcement mental health, and pastoral care. These sessions are held every other Monday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET.
ASPR COVID-19 State, Tribal, Local, or Territorial (STLT) Update Call
CDC hosts a series of national calls with STLT partners to deliver the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak and U.S. preparedness efforts. These calls will take place on the third Monday of each month.
Occurs third Monday of each month from 2:00PM to 3:00PM EST
Vermont: emPOWER & SVI De-identified Data
The HHS emPOWER Program is a partnership between the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The HHS emPOWER Program provides federal data, mapping, and artificial intelligence tools that are used to protect the of Medicare beneficiaries who are also relying on electrically powered medical devices. Currently there are 4.2 million individuals who live independently and rely on electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment and devices, and or essential health care services.
Radiation & Chemical Training Corner
Find the latest trainings here.
AWR-140-W, Introduction to Radiological/Nuclear WMD Operations
PER-300-W, Primary Screener/Personal Radiation Detector (PRD) Refresher
PER-307-W, Introduction to Nuclear Detonation Effects and Response Strategies
Where: Online
Available: Free, register to create an account
Health Sector Emergency Preparedness Distance Learning Course
This course gives a general overview of emergency planning and preparedness, development of policies and procedures, and creation of communication plans and training and exercises for healthcare entities.
Where: Online
Available: Free
Internet-Basic EMS Concepts for CBRNE Events
Is it natural or weaponized? Exposure or contamination, what’s the difference? Why did everyone in the room become sick? Where does Emergency Medical Services (EMS) fit into the Incident Command System (ICS) tree?
Learn the answers to these questions and more by taking the web-based Basic Emergency Medical Services Concepts for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) course. AWR111-W can be completed by someone initially seeking information about this topic or by a health care provider wanting to enhance their knowledge concerning CBRNE events.
Where: Online
Available: Free
Just in Time Training for Medical Staff
Where: Online Self Study
Available: Free
National Alliance for Radiation Readiness Radiation Training Modules for Public Health
Throughout these training modules, subject matter experts (SMEs) will walk you through the radiation-specific issues that should be considered before and during the four phases of response. These SMEs are members of the National Alliance for Radiation Readiness (NARR) and represent public health, healthcare and emergency management. There is no doubt that a radiation emergency will require a multidisciplinary response across coordinating sectors. These modules will help enhance that coordination
Where: Online
Available: Free
Radiological Accident Assessment Concepts
Learn how to assess the offsite radiological consequences to the public following a release of radioactivity from nuclear power reactors and non-reactor incidents, and how to use this assessment as a basis for recommending protective actions to decision makers.
Where: Online
Available: Free
RITN Medical Grandrounds Training
In the event of a disaster that results in hematologic toxicity, physicians will need to understand the basics of Acute Radiation Syndrome treatment, as well as sources to reference for more detailed treatment instructions.
Where: Online
Available: Free
Emergency Medical Response Awareness for CBRNE Incidents
Students gain knowledge and practical experience in the triage and treatment of CBRNE mass casualty victims. The student reviews the CBRNE threat and associated symptoms of exposure and contamination; on-site and hospital triage and treatment of victims; and performs scenario-based triaging decision games to provide experience in the critical thinking skills required to quickly triage and treat CBRNE mass casualty victims
Where: Online
Available: Free
Healthcare Coalition Functional Exercise
This is a video to guide HCCs through functional exercise.
Where: Online
Available: Free
Introduction to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 2
This 45 minute Independent Study Training (IST) is a self-paced, web-based course addressing the following topics:
History and Foundations of the FEMA REP Program
Structure and Guidance provided by NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 2
How Different Organizations Use and Apply NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 2
Where: Online
Available: Free
Medical Countermeasures Awareness for Public Health Emergencies
The Medical Countermeasures Awareness for Public Health Emergencies course is a web-based course that enhances community preparedness by providing awareness-level training on the roles and responsibilities of the local public health community and its partners. The course covers local and federal resources and capabilities that may exist to help provide post-exposure prophylaxis for a large population in response to a catastrophic CBRNE or other public health event. It also reviews actions taken by a local jurisdiction during a public health emergency that require response at the local level and deployment of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
Where: Online
Available: Free, register for an account
Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex course is designed to help you understand the Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex (NRIA)
Where: Online
Available: Free
REP Decision Makers Course
This web-based course provides a basic awareness and understanding of a radiological event, and how the information supplied during the event may affect your decision-making process. In this course you will learn basic information about radiation, radiation exposure, and radioactivity. You will understand nuclear power plant operations, accidents, and emergency response. You will understand the relationship between Protective Action Guides (PAGs) protective action recommendations (PARs), and protective action decisions (PADs). You will be able to identify incident phases and how emergency workers play a role in your protective action decisions.
Where: Online
Available: Free
RITN Web Based Training
Where: Online
Available: Free
VHEPC Event Calendar
Contact Us
Alissa Fontaine, VHEPC Chair
802-748-7502
Jonathan Scott, VHEPC Co-Chair
617-510-7033
Art Groux, VHEPC Member At-Large
802-442-5817
Charlie Miceli, VHEPC Member At-Large
Heather Rigney, VHEPC Member At-Large
802-295-8913
Liz Rowell, VHEPC Member At-Large
802-585-4229
Lauren Smith, Interim Readiness and Response Coordinator
458-225-4684
Baillie Brooks, Assistant Readiness and Response Coordinator
303-565-9425
Sam Carr, VHEPC Project Support/Planning Specialist
984-484-8269
Dr. David Nelson, Pediatric Clinical Advisor
702-449-9903
Dr. Ryan Sexton, Clinical Advisor
609-709-2882