Frequently Asked Questions
As a Healthcare Coalition, we are here to serve and help. We have provided a list of frequently asked questions about who we are and what we do below. If you have a question that was not answered below please contact us.
Region B hospitals have been meeting together since 2007 with the goal of becoming better prepared to respond to disasters. The hospitals have developed strong relationships and have plans to support each other during emergencies.
Recognizing that hospitals alone are not sufficient to take care of the health care needs after a disaster; the State of Georgia has expanded this regional planning coordination to the healthcare system at-large. The Georgia Mountains Healthcare Coalition includes a variety of healthcare and planning organizations including, but not limited to:
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Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
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American Red Cross
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Community Health Care Centers (Med Link)
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Dialysis Centers
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Emergency Management Agencies (EMA)
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
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Home Health
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Hospitals
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Hospice
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Mental / Behavioral Health Providers
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Nursing Homes / Assisted Living
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Pharmacists
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Post Secondary Allied Health and Nursing Programs
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Public Health
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Public Safety (Police, Fire, Volunteer Fire Depts., School and College Safety and Security
When a disaster hits a community or a region, the entire health care system will be impacted.
All health care organizations, from the largest hospital to a small community health center, will need to work together in a coordinated fashion to effectively respond to the disaster and work towards recovery. Planning together saves lives!
Health care organizations make plans for their own facilities. Hospitals have planned with other hospitals. Nursing homes have planned with other nursing homes. During all healthcare emergencies, decisions made by one health care organization will impact others. Facilities are often counting on the same resources, however, planning together will create a more prepared and resilient healthcare system.
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Respond to numerous real world events including power outages, severe weather, shelter openings, flooding, tornados, white powder incidents, active threats, infectious disease
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Develop Regional Plans: Surge, COOP, Evacuation and Receiving, Mass Fatality, Incident Management Plan
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Coordinate and participate in Regional Exercises including Mass Casualty Incident, Severe Weather, Point of Dispensing Sites, Infectious Disease Outbreak
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Host numerous state funded trainings such as Psychological First Aid, Realism in Exercises, DCON, Nuclear Plant Emergency Response, Healthcare Emergency Management Course, Explosion and Blast Injury
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Increase preparedness for agencies with grant funded purchases including DECON equipment, generators, PPE, morgue supplies, redundant communication devices, and evacuation and surge supplies
As a member, your organization can:
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Build and/or strengthen relationships with other healthcare organizations & emergency management partners
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Learn about available resources in the community
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Have your concerns heard and addressed throughout the planning process
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Have access to additional training and grant funding
All health care and public safety organizations in Region B are invited to become members of the coalition. Members regularly attend meetings, participate in planning, and agree to work with and support other members during disaster response and recovery.
Regional Coordinating Hospital
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Darrell Townsend
Healthcare Coalition Coordinator
Director of Security
770-219- 5105
Darrell.Townsend@nghs.com
Georgia Department of Public Health - District 2
Donna Sue Campbell
Healthcare Coalition Facilitator
770-535-6989
DonnaSue.Campbell@dph.ga.gov