Region 4 Disaster Virtual Care Alliance (R4-DVCA)
The SRDRS launched a new regional alliance to unite healthcare partners across Region 4 who are committed to advancing innovative virtual care solutions for disaster response. This collaborative effort will bring together healthcare partners to advance virtual care solutions for disaster response, share real-world use cases, and build a more connected, resilient healthcare system in Region 4.
Region 4 Academic Health Centers Consortium for Emergency Preparedness & Response
The SRDRS will launch a new consortium to unite academic health centers across Region 4 to lead the way in disaster healthcare readiness. This collaborative regional network will help drive innovation, share best practices, and strengthen surge capacity for healthcare disaster response. By uniting expertise and resources, we’re building a smarter, more connected regional healthcare system.
Regional Outreach
As part of HHS Region 4 cross-state engagement, SRDRS is inviting Health Care Coalitions and health care systems to enhance dialogue and inform best practice for triage, clinical care, and health system operations through engagement of both clinical and health system operational experts to better manage mass casualties that could result from a CBRNE incident
MOCC Summit Collaboration
The Southern Regional Disaster Response System (SRDRS) hosted a Medical Operations Coordination Center (MOCC) Summit on October 9-10, 2024. The main goals for this summit included engaging HHS Region 4 partners to discuss patient movement initiatives, synthesize feedback, and identify next steps to best support cross state patient movement.
Emergency Management Association of Georgia
SRDRS was introduced widely to Region 4 states during the 2022 Emergency Management Association of Georgia (EMAG) Training and Preparedness Summit. The meeting is hosted in Georgia, however the target audience includes partners from all Region 4 states, including the healthcare coalition leads. The Summit further served to introduce the SRDRS broadly to partners in the southeastern states and numerous opportunities for interstate collaboration among emergency managers and healthcare coalition leaders were identified.
Poison Control Center Collaborations
Comprised of Poison Control Center Medical Directors, Executive Directors/Managers, and Toxicology Fellows, R4PC3 will provide the infrastructure to synergize efforts across Poison Control Centers and the subject matter experts that they represent in Region 4. All 10 of the Region 4 poison control centers have partnered with SRDRS. R4PC3 is governed by a steering committee composed of representatives from each poison center leadership team.
Dr. Ziad Kazzi coordinates the activities of the steering committee. R4PC3 intends to enhance the capability of Region 4 in providing technical and clinical consultations to medical providers, public health, emergency management and the public, during and after chemical disasters. R4PC3 and future radiation collaborative will review published EEI templates to develop EEIs for specific situations such as radiation.
R4PC3 has identified the first guidelines will be the assessment and management of (1) radiation exposures and (2) nerve agents. Together, all of the Poison Control Centers located in Region 4 determined these two clinical guidelines would benefit their centers the most.
Tele-EMS Collaborations
The SRDRS prehospital tele-paramedicine component, established through Emory PAVES, have successfully partnered with Grady EMS in 18 counties in Georgia. They are also exploring new collaborations with eight EMS agencies in six regions. The initiative has been integrated with the Emory Rural Tele-EMS Network and has already activated two regions, allowing remote treatment of patients in route to rural hospitals. The expansion to Regions D and E will deploy ambulances with synchronized hardware and software setup, ensuring seamless connectivity, and will be supported by a just-in-time training program to equip emergency responders with the necessary skills to utilize the new technology.
Disaster Collaborative for Observation Medicine (DCOM)
- Enhance outcomes by clarifying the role of the ED Observation Unit in a disaster
- Develop guidelines for unique disaster conditions
- Detail how to best leverage telemedicine
- Foster interstate collaboration
Pediatric Healthcare Improvement Coalition
Pediatric Healthcare Improvement Coalition of Georgia, INC is a collaboration between pediatric hospitals in Georgia. These hospitals include:
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
- Children's Hospital of Georgia
- Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital
- Pediatric Services at Piedmont Columbus Hospital
- Memorial Health Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children's Hopsital
