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U of M Medical Reserve Corps Newsletter April 2015
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Dear U of M Medical Reserve Corps Members,
The emergency response capabilities of the University of Minnesota are enhanced by the strength of the University's Medical Reserve Corps program. Fundamentally, the strength of any MRC unit undoubtedly begins with its skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated members.
Each month we will highlight one of our members in the "Member Spotlight" section of the MRC newsletter and website. It is a small yet heartfelt gesture to recognize uniquely qualified individuals who represent the over 1100 U of MN MRC members with whom they share a passion for serving their community during a public health emergency.
Thank you for your commitment to the Medical Reserve Corps program!
Warm regards,
Kathy
Kathy Hite Berlin
U of M Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator
medicalreserve@umn.edu
612-626-4722 (office)
Mayo Building, 3rd floor, room C-386
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UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
Occasionally we highlight emergency preparedness and response conference and training opportunities that may be of interest to our MRC members. The following conference and training events are included in this newsletter as a result of member inquiries regarding the availability of additional emergency response training.
Summer Public Health Institute Course
Emergency Preparedness & Response for the Managed Wildlife Community
Michelle Willette & Yvonne Nadler
Course: PubH 7200 Section 103 Class 83098
Dates: May 26 (9 am – 12 pm) and May 27, 28, 29 (8 am – 12 pm)
Credit: 1 credit or 15 CE contact hours
This course provides an overview of animal emergency and disaster preparedness and response for One Health professionals in fields such as veterinary medicine, public health, education, emergency management responders and regulatory personnel. Participants will develop a working knowledge of the incident command system and emergency management practices at local, state and federal levels; learn about resources to enhance preparedness for natural or man-made disasters including infectious disease impacting managed wildlife communities; and, discuss opportunities for collaboration among One Health professional disciplines. This course will conclude with a mock table top exercise involving a disease outbreak at a wildlife rehabilitation center interacting with local, state and federal animal and public health agencies.
For more information visit the website: www.sph.umn.edu/programs/institute
Disaster Behavioral Health Conference
Footprint of Disasters: Retracing our Steps
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Time: 8:30am-4:00pm
Location: Earle Brown Heritage Center
6155 Earle Brown Drive
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Parking: Ample Free Parking www.earlebrown.com
Topics:
- The Human Impact of Ebola in Minnesota
- Today and the Future of National Disaster Behavioral Health
- Behavioral Health Recovery: Outcomes from a National Disaster Recovery Workgroup
- Perspectives of First Responders
- Local Disaster Behavioral Health Planning Updates
To Register:
The AHC Office of Emergency Response and the U of MN Medical Reserve Corps is offering 5 scholarships to MRC members to attend this conference.
Interested members may contact Kathy Berlin prior to the deadline of Thursday, May 21 at medicalreserve@umn.edu.
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Strike Team News
Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team-IMPORTANT UPDATE
We have been notified by the Minnesota Department of Health that there is no longer a need for the repackaging of antibiotics in the event of a public health emergency. National and state assets have now been converted from bulk to prepackaged individual doses.
Upon receiving this news we will be disbanding the Pharmaceutical Repackaging Strike Team.
After consulting with our MRC Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team Leaders, we are directing our efforts towards recruiting and training College of Pharmacy members within our MRC unit to join the Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team. Amongst other emergency response roles, members of this team will assist with dispensing antibiotics at the University’s Point of Dispensing (POD), should it be activated during an emergency.
Action Requested:
-If you were a member of the repackaging strike team and you ARE NOT affiliated with the College of Pharmacy, we encourage you to consider joining one of our other strike teams, including the:
• Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment Fit Testing Strike Team,
• Logistics Strike Team, or
• Veterinary Medicine Response Strike Team.
-If you are a student, staff member, or faculty member in the College of Pharmacy we ask that you consider joining the Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team. If, in the past, you were a member of the Pharmaceutical Repackaging Team, we ask that you consider remaining on the Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team.
For more information on the strike teams go to the U of MN MRC homepage: http://emergencyresponse.umn.edu/medical-reserve-corps
Behavioral Health Response Strike Team
Members of the Behavioral Health Response Strike Team took part in a first of its kind training event that focused on three critical behavioral health roles during Campus/Family Assistance Center operations. A Family Assistance Center (FAC) may be activated in response to a mass casualty event on campus. The functions of a FAC are to assess and support the physical and emotional well-being of incident survivors,create a centralized and well-equipped resource for family and friends of survivors and the deceased and to support Office of Medical Examiner operations related to fatality management.
Additional FAC training will be offered to Behavioral Health Response Strike Team members and others within the University's MRC in the months ahead.
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Medical Reserve Corps - Member Spotlight
Adley Lemke is completing his second year as a student in the College of Pharmacy and is an active member of the Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team.
When asked why he chose to join the University's Medical Reserve Corp, Adley states he simply wants to serve his community during an emergency or disaster and he feels privileged to be a part of a university program that allows him the opportunity to be a part of critical emergency response efforts.
Since joining the U of MN MRC in 2013, Adley has participated in member notification drills, a Pharmaceutical Response Strike Team training event, and has completed all requirements for membership.
Adley offers the kind of enthusiasm and energy we appreciate in our student MRC members.
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AHC-Office of Emergency Response Staff
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Jill DeBoer, MPH
Director
jdeboer@umn.edu
612-625-3958
Kathy Berlin, RN, PHN
MRC Coordinator
berli034@umn.edu
612 626-4722
Elaine Collison, MPA
Deputy Director
collison@umn.edu
612-625-9684
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Carlos R. Cruz
Project Manager
crcruz@umn.edu
612-626-7694
Laurel O’Neil
Office Manager
oneil005@umn.edu
612-624-9272
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