About New Interagency Group to Establish Standards for First Responders

Last updated on 2009-08-06 09:44:33

New Interagency Group to Establish Standards for First Responders

Arlington, Virginia: The inaugural meeting of the Federal Education & Training Interagency Group (FETIG) for Public Health and Medical Disaster Preparedness and Response kicked off on December 11 - 12, 2008. Representatives from the five lead federal agencies participated: the Departments of Health and Human Services, Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation.

USUHS President Dr. Charles Rice delivers one of the welcoming addresses.

The interagency group is responsible for coordination the implementation of applicable laws and executive directives related to education and training in medical and public health preparedness and response to disaster.

The FETIG will standardize, promote and deliver a core educational platform of public health, medical and laboratory subject matter. This is designed to ensure a well trained, integrated, well-protected and professional workforce during times of disaster.

The FETIG will operate in accordance with the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21: Public Health and Medical Preparedness and section 319F of the Public Health Service Act as well as other applicable laws and executive directives.

Although much has been done to improve the overall awareness and recognition of public health and medical emergencies, additional efforts are required to ensure the thorough integration of public health and medical curricula. Establishing a core curriculum, continuing education program, and refresher requirements will allow clinical, laboratory and public health professionals to safely and competently recognize, prepare for and respond to disasters of all types.

The curricula that the FETIG will coordinate is meant to maintain an all-hazards approach to training for disasters, incorporating chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, and naturally occurring event education and training.

Co-chairs CAPT D.W Chen and Michael Handrigan lead the FETIG discussion

CAPT D.W. Chen (DoD) and Dr. Michael Handrigan (DHHS) co-chaired the meeting. Dr. Robert Kadlec of the White House Homeland Security Council provided the keynote address. During his address, Dr. Kadlec emphasized that the FETIG¿s objective is not about creating programs, but to propagate those that have proven to work in domestic and foreign crises. He indicated that we can learn from the experience of first responders and battlefield medical providers.

One significant outcome of the meeting was the FETIG authorizing the creation of a joint program and tasking Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) to initiate procedures to implement the program. This action will support the newly chartered National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health at USUHS. The National Center shall coordinate an approach to developing core curricula, training, and research related to public health and medical disaster preparedness and response.

The FETIG also established three work groups to accomplish its immediate objectives:

The Governance Work Group will create the rules of internal operations.
The Mission Statement Work Group will study enabling regulations to create a statement that will move FETIG principles into practice.
The Operations/Accountability Work Group will establish business practices, relationships with stakeholders, and accountability between the National Center and external organizations.

The FETIG anticipates meeting monthly for at least the next six months. The plan developed by the FETIG and adopted by academic institutions and training centers nationwide will lead to a better coordinated medical response to disasters.