Hospital Preparedness Program
Overview
The mission of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) is to support and enhance the ability of hospitals and health care systems to provide effective care and save lives during emergencies and disasters that exceed the day-to-day capacity of the health care and emergency response systems.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Office of Preparedness and Response receives federal funding on an annual basis from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to advance HPP goals and objectives. MDH awards these funds in the form of grants to health care system partners across the state.
These partners include hospitals and free-standing emergency departments, community health centers, state-managed facilities, poison control centers, emergency medical services, home care and hospice agencies, as well as regional health care preparedness coalitions. Health care system partners utilize HPP funds to enhance their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and other emergencies that pose a threat to the health and safety of the community.
Regional Health Care Coalitions
The Maryland Hospital Preparedness Program prepares the health care system to save lives by supporting and investing in the development of regional health care coalitions. Health care coalitions seek to incentivize diverse and often competing health care organizations to work together to improve overall health care system preparedness. Each health care coalition is made up of hospitals, local health departments, emergency medical services and emergency management agencies, and other partners from the health care and emergency management community.
Coalition membership is unique to each region and may include a variety of other community partners (e.g., urgent care, dialysis centers, pharmacies, local law enforcement), depending on the health care coalition’s specific regional preparedness planning goals. Participation in a health care coalition has many benefits, including joint training and exercise opportunities, access to shared assets and equipment, and a venue to engage in coordinated preparedness planning with other health care partners.
Regions I and II Health Care Coalition
Regions I and II Health Care Coalition covers Maryland’s four westernmost counties: Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick counties.
Colin Graham, Health Care Coalition Coordinator for Regions I & II
Region III Health and Medical Coalition
Region III Health and Medical Coalition covers central Maryland: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties, as well as Baltimore City.
Megan Roderick, Assistant Director of Hospital Preparedness Program
Delmarva Regional Healthcare Mutual Aid Group
Region IV health care coalition covers the Eastern Shore of Maryland: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.
Region V Emergency Preparedness Coalition
Region V Emergency Preparedness Coalition covers southern Maryland and the National Capital Region: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties.