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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Medical product shortages can follow hurricanes and other extreme weather incidents. Most recently, flooding due to Hurricane Helene inundated a Baxter International facility in North Carolina, one of the key intravenous (IV) fluid suppliers in the U.S. The new tipsheet Intravenous Fluid Shortage Strategies contains information that can help healthcare providers modify traditional practices and conserve product. 

Access the Letter to Health Care Leaders and Stakeholders on Impacts of Hurricane Helene from Secretary Becerra and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Hurricane Helene: Baxter's Manufacturing Recovery in North Carolina for additional information and updates. Our Medical Product Shortages and Scarce Resources and Hurricane Resources Page may also be helpful for those stakeholders affected by recent and ongoing storms. Please reach out to us if you need technical assistance.  

This issue of The Express highlights the following new and updated resources:

• Medical Operations Coordination Centers (MOCCs) (New Resource Page)
• MOCC Toolkit (Version 3.0) (Updated)
• Burn Mass Casualty Incidents: Triage, Assessment, and Treatment Considerations
• Communications Systems and Information Sharing Topic Collections (Updated)
• Pediatric Issues Informing Current and Future Disaster Planning (Webinar Recording)
• Addressing the Impacts of Weather on Rural Health (Register Today!)
• National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference

Medical Operations Coordination Centers (New Resource Page)

The ASPR TRACIE resources included in the new Medical Operations Coordination Centers Resource Page cover patient movement from area healthcare facilities and tracking that can help emergency planners and responders learn more about various levels of assistance available, how to request it, how it is activated, and lessons learned from recent incidents.

Medical Operations Coordination Centers Toolkit (Version 3.0, Updated)

ASPR TRACIE recently added a new Burn Considerations for MOCCs appendix to the 3.0 Version of the Medical Operations Coordination Centers Toolkit which was released in spring 2024. 

Burn Mass Casualty Incidents: Triage, Assessment, and Treatment Considerations 

Burn mass casualty incidents are infrequent but can quickly overwhelm local resources and exceed the capacity of the closest burn center to provide care. Patients will need to be cared for initially at non-burn center facilities that may be called on to render immediate critical interventions and prolonged care until transfer to a burn center is deemed necessary and possible. Burn Mass Casualty Incidents: Triage, Assessment, and Treatment Considerations offers an initial approach to burn injury evaluation and resuscitation at hospitals that do not normally provide burn care.

Communications Systems and Information Sharing Topic Collections (Updated)  

Robust communication systems can allow first responders and medical professionals to maintain communication after a disaster. The timely and effective sharing of information within and across jurisdictions, disciplines, and organizations is critical to an effective public health emergency and disaster response. Much progress has been made since 9/11, and best practices indicate that those communities with solid, daily, consistent public health and homeland security collaborations respond better to critical incidents. The recently updated Communications Systems and Information Sharing Topic Collections highlight guidance and lessons learned that can help our stakeholders address these considerations in their own plans to ensure a common operating picture.

Pediatric Issues Informing Current and Future Disaster Planning (Webinar Recording)  

Panelists in the Pediatric Issues Informing Current and Future Disaster Planning webinar shared how efforts by ASPR’s Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence are shaping current and future pediatric disaster planning. 

Addressing the Impacts of Weather on Rural Health (Register Today!)

Although everyone is subject to health impacts associated with extreme weather events, populations in rural areas with already limited health systems may be more vulnerable than others. Participants in the October 15th Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Addressing the Impacts of Weather on Rural Health webinar will learn more about extreme weather events in rural areas, how to access related ASPR TRACIE resources, and how two of HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy grantees are working to address weather-related health needs in their communities. Register today!

National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference 

Register for the National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference today and join our session “Sustainable MOCCs: Making Them Work for You” (on December 12, at 11:45 AM). This session will feature Mary King (Medical Director, Pediatric Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Harborview, Washington) and Annette Newman (Western Region Burn Disaster Consortia Coordinator) discussing how to incorporate specialty considerations such as pediatrics and burn into Medical Operations Coordination Centers.