Hospitals receive $5 million for emergency preparedness

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Hospitals receive $5 million for emergency preparedness
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Star-Ledger Staff
The state Health Department yesterday awarded $5 million in grants to New Jersey hospitals and other health care facilities in an effort to strengthen emergency response.
Eighty acute-care hospitals and 14 federally qualified health centers will use the money to enhance their ability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents.
'New Jersey's health care facilities must be prepared to both prevent and treat disease outbreaks as well as protect health care professionals who work at these facilities,' said state Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs.
The grants were made available through funding from the Federal Health Resource and Services Administration. Hospitals and federally qualified health centers were eligible to apply for the funding.
Facilities can use the money to purchase equipment to expand isolation, decontamination and communication capabilities and to increase pharmaceutical supplies and personal protection equipment. The grant also can be used for staff education and training to conduct preparedness drills and exercises.
In addition to the grants announced yesterday, the state also has dedicated funds during the last three years to New Jersey hospitals as follows:
$7.5 million for developing public health emergency regional coordination centers.
$2 million for personal protective equipment, decontamination and emergency preparedness.
$2 million for the strategic stockpile of medications, vaccines, antidotes and safety equipment for use during health emergencies.
$1.2 million to help hospitals enhance their smallpox preparedness.
-- Angela Stewart

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