About the Medical and Health Preparedness Group
The Bay Area UASI Medical and Health Planning Group was formed in an attempt to better address the planning efforts for medical and/or health based events. Prior to the formation, many related groups worked in silos and developed plans that were disjointed from one another and from the State’s plans. Merging the various planning groups (Mass Prophylaxis, Mass Fatality, Mass Care, Medical Surge, and Mass Casualty) into an all-inclusive group allows for true collaboration between all planning efforts.
The focus for the 2008 and 2009 grant cycles is on local, regional and state response to mass casualty events. With the recent release of the California Disaster Medical Operations Manual (CDMOM) and the California Disaster Health Operations Manual (CDHOM), there developed an even greater need for synchronization between the State, the region, and local government agencies. Representatives from each of these levels will take part in the development of plans and templates and will better enable the quick adoption and implementation of all end products.
The second focus for the 2008 and 2009 grant cycles is in the area of mass care and shelter. With the ever-looming possibility of natural, man made, or terrorist based events within our region or state, there exists the potential need for the care and shelter of displaces individuals and animals. The Bay Area UASI, in conjunction with several state agencies and local governments, will attempt to enhance the ability to respond and recover to such needs. Projects deal with the creation of a local, regional and statewide shelter database, the purchase of shelter equipment, and the distribution of the shelter toolkits within the UASI’s Bay Area footprint.
For the 2010 grant cycle, the emphesis will be on the development of a regional medical surge plan that will compliment local planning efforts that have occured as a result of other grant requirements as well as feed into the State surge plans/guidences.