Healthcare Professionals Discuss Bioterrorism, Ebola at Seventh Annual RHPC Symposium

(HOUSTON, TX) – World renowned doctors, security experts and first responders from all over the world shared their experiences and lessons learned at the 2015 Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) Symposium.

The annual conference drew more than 400 healthcare professionals, first responders, emergency managers, and military and government officials from across the country.

Hosted by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VI, the symposium provided participants with two-and-a-half days of quality educational programs and networking.

This year, RHPC invited its TALON Region VI partners. These health preparedness coalition members, include federal and state representatives from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico (TALON).  Each state has a dedicated public health preparedness and response entity working to further the safety and security of their residents. In addition, each state is committed to assisting the others in times of disaster. 

“This has been a great week. Expanding the symposium to include our neighboring states brought a lot of new voices to the conversation,” said SETRAC Regional Director of Emergency Management Operations Lori Upton. “We are very pleased with the turnout and the quality of the programs.”

The symposium offered a series of sessions on public health and safety. The topics included emergency preparedness, cyber security, mass casualty events and radiological and biological terrorism incidents. Speakers discussed the transport of deadly diseases, the growing theft of radioactive materials, lessons learned from the London subway bombings and much more.

"It's really about learning lessons from other people's mistakes,” said Stephen Hines with the London Ambulance Service. “It's valuable information and I'm taking a lot of great ideas back to London with me."

In addition to the sessions and workshops, the exhibit hall displayed numerous response assets. Among the most popular, and new to the symposium, was the Baylor College of Medicine Emergency Smart Pod. This portable four-bed treatment unit can be quickly built and rapidly deployed in emergency response situations, including epidemics such as Ebola and natural disasters, where clinical facilities need to be constructed rapidly.

SETRAC also showcased the Ebola ambulance that’s equipped to transport infectious disease patients. Participating ambulance companies are trained to convert their standard issued vehicles to infectious disease transports. Carefully lined with protective plastic sheeting that contains the spread of Ebola.

Texas Children’s Hospital was recognized this year with the RHPC Award of Excellence for its commitment to comprehensive emergency management in the regional healthcare community.

SETRAC and RHPC are committed to working with local partners to build strong disaster medical response capabilities that will be critical in future response and recovery efforts.

SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) has two separate missions which are the Hospital Preparedness Program and clinical service lines. SETRAC prepares our 25 county region for manmade or natural emergencies, disasters and mass casualty events. Trauma, stroke, cardiac and pediatric service lines focus on establishing protocols and standards of care to deliver our community the appropriate care through the appropriate facilities with the appropriate care givers.

Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (RHPC) is the preparedness committee of SETRAC. RHPC provides collaborative planning and response to emergencies, and preserves the medical infrastructure of the region.

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has a mission to improve the health and well-being of Texans. DSHS envisions a healthy Texas, ensuring strategic and operational goals that cover prevention and preparedness of the public from health threats.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VI oversees the federal emergency management for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and 68 federally recognized Tribal Nations. Its mission is to support citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.