By Sarah Green
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Dec. 1 During the past four years, Kansas hospitals statewide have used almost $16 million in federal funding to prepare for a possible bioterrorist attack or incident. They”ve used the money to buy communications equipment and other hardware.
But that hasn”t been enough to meet the state”s needs, according to a May 2006 Kansas Health Institute report, which found inadequacies in hospitals” abilities to provide appropriate time, resources and people to prepare for potential bioterrorism attacks.
Hospitals will receive a total $4.5 million more this year from the U.S. Health and Resources and Services Administration, to be used to help remedy those problems, said Dan Leong, director of emergency preparedness for the hospital association, which represents hospitals in the association”s six administrative regions.
The grant requires hospitals to work on improving communication among the “tiers” of emergency response officials representing cities, counties, and the hospital regions. In the future, the government hopes each agency will be able to quickly and effectively communicate with agencies in other states in the event of a large-scale attack or disaster.
“There”s not quite the same focus as we”ve had in the past,” Leong said.
Emergency preparedness for hospitals often focuses on “mass-casualty events,” or those involving many patients who suddenly need treatment at one or more hospitals. Scenarios range from natural disasters to transportation accidents; large explosions, fires or chemical releases; terrorism, or certain kinds of disease outbreaks, said officials at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, who announced the grant in September. Hospitals will start to receive funding allocations between now and January, Leong said.
Training still needed
A May 2006 study by Kansas Health Institute researchers Sheldon Weisgrau and Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino recommended improving communication and training at the regional level.
Programs to purchase appropriate communications equipment have succeeded; but there has been
insufficient training for workers who use those systems, the study showed.
And, because many regional coordinators work part time, effective communication will continue to be difficult. Full-time positions may be needed to assure proper training and management of each region”s preparedness activities.
Money has been allocated to hire full-time regional coordinators in the southwest and north-central hospital association regions. And there is a plan to add others who could help neighboring regions, Leong said.
“The hospitals are definitely facing challenges, at least on the operational side,” he said. “There are challenges with staffing and with turnover. Finding time for some of this planning can be tough.”
So far, the federal funds have helped improve relations among the state”s hospitals, Leong said.
“The HRSA grant focuses on regional collaboration, and I think having that has been good for them,” he said. “They don”t see each other as competitors, but see them as institutions that can help with what they”re doing in a disaster with equipment and volunteers.”
The KHI report also urged communities to focus on “all-hazards” programs instead of those only dealing with “bioterrorism.” The KHI Researchers discovered many local officials did not believe a bioterrorism attack was likely in Kansas.
The new HRSA grant requires training for local emergency responders and testing of the country”s responder network. Grant recipients are required to hold training exercises for two scenarios: a pandemic flu outbreak and an explosive attack, Leong said.
That way, HRSA can gauge how city, county and state “tiers” work together
even across state lines
in response to emergencies.
In addition to hospitals, funds from the grant were also designated for the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services; the University of Kansas” poison control center in Kansas City; and the creation of an electronic disease surveillance system. The hospital association and KDHE will continue to refine and finalize funding for the state”s grant recipients, Leong said.
Sarah Green is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. She can be reached at
sgreen@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 118.