Ebola Response Discussed at Texas Symposium

HOUSTON, TX – More than 300 healthcare professionals, first responders, emergency managers, military and government officials from across the country attended the Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) Symposium in Galveston, November 5-7.

Hosted by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services, the sixth annual RHPC Symposium provided participants with two-and-a-half days of quality educational programs and networking.

“We are very pleased with the success of this year’s symposium,” said SETRAC Chief Executive Officer Darrell Pile. “Events like these help us learn from one another and make new connections that will help with future collaborative efforts.”

This year’s symposium brought together world renowned doctors, safety experts and first responders to share their experiences and lessons learned from recent disasters including the Snohomish County, Washington landslide and the West Africa Ebola outbreak.

“We always look for guest speakers whose expertise and experience can enrich and enhance our attendees’ understanding of emergency preparedness issues,” added Pile.

Keynote speaker, Dr. William A. Fischer II, discussed the Ebola outbreak and his experience in West Africa where he volunteered with the organization Doctors Without Borders. A clinical instructor in pulmonary and critical medicine at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Center, Fischer saw firsthand the daily struggles of the doctors, healthcare workers and patients that he worked with in Guinea.

In the United States, Ebola took center stage in Texas when the first diagnosed case was confirmed in Dallas. Since then, public health officials have been taking special precautions to identify Ebola symptoms and healthcare professionals have been reminded to use meticulous infection control at all times.

“Since the Ebola outbreak, we have been promoting preventive measures for EMS agencies and hospitals handling patients with Ebola-like symptoms,” said SETRAC Regional Director of Emergency Management Operations Lori Upton. “SETRAC, through its Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC), coordinates with 160 hospitals in 25 Texas counties to help keep diseases like Ebola from spreading.”

Healthcare facilities play a vital role in emergency preparedness efforts, whether they are natural disasters or pandemic outbreaks. Although facilities have general emergency management plans in place, there is always a need for ongoing training and reassessment of current emergency readiness plans.

In addition to the sessions and workshops, the exhibit hall displayed numerous response assets including an ambulance bus, decontamination facilities, mobile medical units, and military and law enforcement vessels.

SETRAC and RHPC are committed to working with local partners to build strong disaster medical response capabilities that will be critical in future response and recovery efforts.

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) has two separate missions which are the Hospital Preparedness Program and clinical service lines. SETRAC prepares our 25 county region for manmade or natural emergencies, disasters and mass casualty events. Trauma, stroke, cardiac and pediatric service lines focus on establishing protocols and standards of care to deliver our community the appropriate care through the appropriate facilities with the appropriate care givers.

Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) is the preparedness committee of SETRAC. RHPC provides collaborative planning and response to emergencies, and preserves the medical infrastructure of the region.

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has a mission to improve the health and well-being of Texans. DSHS envisions a healthy Texas, ensuring strategic and operational goals that cover prevention and preparedness of the public from health threats.