Frontline Hospital Workers Learn Readiness Procedures for Treating Victims of Mass Casualty Incidents

News Advisory:

-- National Conference in Washington, D.C., Focuses on Hospital “First Receivers” -- the First to Treat Victims Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals, Diseases

WHO: Joint Commission Resources (JCR) and the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) is partnering to help hospitals protect “First Receivers” in a post-hurricane and post-September 11 environment.

WHAT: At this national conference, hospital First Receivers -- the first medical staff to receive emergency victims of hazardous disasters -- will learn how to protect themselves from infectious disease and exposure to dangerous chemicals; how to protect their hospital environment; and how to strengthen emergency preparedness.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

-- Dennis S. O’Leary, M.D., president, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

-- Jonathan L. Snare, acting assistant secretary of Labor, OSHA

-- Joseph Barbera, MD, assistant professor of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University

-- Daniel M. Sosin, MD, MPH, FACP, Coordinating Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

-- David Ippolito, director of the Office of Science and Technological Assessment, OSHA

-- Bob Stephan, assistant secretary for Infrastructure Protection, United States Department of Homeland Security

-- Craig Thorne, MD, MPH, FACP, FACOEM, medical director, Employee Health and Safety, University of Maryland Medical Center

WHY: When a hospital is faced with receiving victims from a mass casualty incident, its health care workers must defend from the risk of occupational exposures to a variety of materials, including chemical and radiologic.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 6, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, and Friday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel, 999 9th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.

Full agenda located at http://www.jcrinc.com/education.asp?durki=10551&site =5&return=9267

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Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, has been designated by the Joint Commission to publish publications and multimedia products. JCR reproduces and distributes these materials under license from the Joint Commission. JCR educational programs and publications support the accreditation activities of the Joint Commission, but are separate functions. Attendees at JCR educational programs and purchasers of JCR publications receive no special consideration or treatment in, or confidential information about, the accreditation process. Learn more about Joint Commission Resources, Inc. at http://www.jcrinc.com.

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Contact Information

Charlene D. Hill

Media Contact

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Contact via E-mail