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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Happy New Year from ASPR TRACIE! This issue of The Express highlights the following new and updated resources: 

• Lessons Learned from the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Fire (Webinar)
• Electronic Health Records and Downtime Procedures (Topic Collection)
• Determining Hospital Supply Needs and Likely Usage during an Incident (Webinar)
• Managing a Pediatric Tripledemic: Lessons Learned from 2022

Please reach out to ASPR TRACIE if you need technical assistance.

Lessons Learned from the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Fire (Webinar)

On February 7, 2023, a 10-alarm fire at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital (Massachusetts) resulted in the total evacuation of the hospital, continued closure, and extensive recovery efforts. In Lessons Learned from the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Fire, hospital representatives shared their experience navigating a complete utilities failure during a fire emergency and discussed their successes and challenges of patient movement, transfers, and discharge; maintaining patient and staff safety; managing cascading events; collaboration with local, state, and regional partners; and how lessons learned impact facility plans, protocols, and training.

Electronic Health Records and Downtime Procedures (Topic Collection)

Patient data is as voluminous as it is vital. Recent cyber-attacks, disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the need for patient data to be protected and accessible by emergency medical providers. Most health care facilities use electronic health records (EHR) to store patient health history and other data. There are multiple Health Information Technology/EHR software programs available, making interoperability a challenge. Recent lessons learned highlight both the utility of these programs and the challenges and risks associated with data collection, access, quality, and transfer capabilities. ASPR TRACIE recently updated the Electronic Health Records and Downtime Procedures Topic Collection which includes guidance and lessons learned specific to EHR.

Determining Hospital Supply Needs and Likely Usage during an Incident (Webinar)

The Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) hosted a HIDA-ASPR Educational Webinar Series designed to educate stakeholders on the role of ASPR programs and share insights on successful public/private partnerships. In Determining Hospital Supply Needs and Likely Usage during an Incident, ASPR TRACIE staff provided an overview of the Disaster Available Supplies in Hospitals (DASH) Tool. Next, Katharine Reisbig (PharmD, BCPS) from Nebraska Medicine shares her experiences using the hospital pharmacy module of the DASH Tool. For more information, check out our DASH Tool video.  

Managing a Pediatric Tripledemic: Lessons Learned from 2022

During the winter months in 2022-2023, hospitals in the state of Washington were overwhelmed by pediatric patients suffering from influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In Managing a Pediatric Tripledemic: Lessons Learned from 2022 subject matter experts provide an overview of the health care coalition, the state’s pediatric capabilities, and how they used their Medical Operations Coordination Center and health care coalitions to balance patient loads throughout the state during this “tripledemic.” Access Issue 18 of The Exchange for more articles on innovations in health care surge management. 

Updates from the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection

ASPR’s Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) offers a variety of newsletters to keep stakeholders informed during emergency response and steady state. The newsletters inform stakeholders of the most significant issues facing the health care and public health sector, including cybersecurity, health care supply chains, and more. If you are interested in receiving CIP newsletters, visit the CIP newsletter subscription webpage.