Public Health Services
Our company’s public health and medical subject matter experts have a wealth of knowledge and practical “real world” experience with advanced degrees and certifications (PhD, MD, MPH, MSA, MSN, BSN, RN) in the public health, hospital, and military medical sectors with backgrounds in clinical care and administrative policy during disasters. Our professionals have represented their agencies, and various state and federal governmental organizations, on actual health and medical responses including Hurricane Katrina and the five named storms which impacted the eastern Gulf Coast during 2005. Our staff also includes well-published medical academicians who hold credentials on various medical and health sciences college campuses, and have authored curriculum on behalf of FEMA and other governmental organizations.
Our Subject Matter Experts can provide health and medical services that will help prepare clients in dealing with a natural disaster such as a Pandemic outbreak or act of terrorism such as an Anthrax attack:
SNS and POD Assessment Tool
Medical Surge Training and Evaluation
Critical Resource Assessment – Personnel, Equipment, Supplies, Infrastructure
Communications Assessment – Internal, External, Redundancy, Interoperability
Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
SNS and POD Drills and Exercises
CRI - BioWatch Drills and Exercises
According to most health and medical experts, the world is due for another pandemic outbreak. With the rapid spread of the H1N1 “Swine” Influenza Virus and H5N1 Avian “Bird” Influenza Virus throughout the globe, we all must prepare for a possible (some say inevitable) widespread human-to-human transfer of the virus. It is our goal to assist you in examining and building your capabilities to meet the challenges of this unique threat to your community. With the arrival of these viruses, and their potential for becoming a dangerous pandemic event, all levels of government will be severely challenged in managing:
SNS and POD Assessment Tool
Surveillance and Rapid Lab Testing
Isolation, Quarantine and Containment
Facility Closures and Event Cancellation
Social Distancing and Targeted Prophylaxis
Hospital Surge Capacity
Prioritization of Antivirals and Vaccine Distribution
SNS and PODS Management
Impact on Health, Medical and First Responder Staffing
Impact on the Economy
Security and Civil Disturbance
Communications with the Media and the Public
A unique aspect of O’Gara’s support to our clients is our collaboration with the academic community. Our company brings value to our clients by partnering with research universities studying important trauma and medical care-based issues to ensure our products and services are at the forefront of medical disaster response. Our team has a rich history of providing services tailored to address specific national healthcare priorities and local needs to include planning, training, exercising and evaluating for pandemic influenza and the various bioterrorism agents.
As the nation’s health and medical response capabilities evolve and realign, our priorities will match these changes. Recently our office was involved in developing a study to address the challenges which every state has when identifying gaps in distribution of critical personnel and logistical assets which may be in high demand during a medical crisis.
Considering that a mass casualty event can become a mass fatality event, it is important to incorporate such scenarios in planning and exercises to insure that our communities are prepared for all potential aspects of an emergency. Our team has a cache of adjunct staff members who are called upon to facilitate plan development, from logistical pre-staging of resources to response and recovery, as experts in their fields. Our team can provide professional consultation and exercise design and delivery to enhance a community’s response capability, from pre-event actions to mass fatalities management.
We have proven experience in developing and conducting pandemic influenza and bioterrorism exercises that evaluate an organization’s ability to prepare for, detect and respond to a naturally occurring or malevolent incident. We apply the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidance and develop a customized exercise to meet your needs. We are certified National Incident Management System-Incident Command System (NIMS-ICS) and HSEEP Mobile Training Course Instructors. We also have the expertise and experience to assist with the development and validation of your Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan.
Our staff has an unmatched depth of expertise in natural disasters involving Pandemic outbreaks, hurricanes and floods to man-made acts of terrorism involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) materials and devices, and includes subject matter experts having careers with State Health and Medical agencies and organizations, FEMA, FBI, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Military and other public safety entities. Our Biological Training Program, which includes Special Projects for Pandemic Influenza, is supported by high-level public health and emergency management professionals who currently oversee key state and federal Biological Response Programs. One of our key staff members is a former FBI WMD Coordinator and Lead Investigator for the 2001 anthrax attacks in Boca Raton, Florida, and has worked closely with local, state and federal agencies during the development and implementation of the BioWatch Program, as well as the Biological Detection System (BDS) currently in use throughout the United States. |
