Frontline Hospital Workers Learn Readiness Procedures for Treating Victims of Mass Casualty Incidents; Natl. Conference in Washington, Focuses on Hospital ’First Receivers’

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- Joint Commission Resources (JCR) and the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) are today convening a two-day national conference in Washington, D.C., to help hospitals protect “First Receivers” -– the first medical staff to receive emergency victims of hazardous disasters -– on how to protect themselves and their hospital environment in a post-hurricane and post-September 11 environment. The recent devastation in the Gulf Coast region has put emergency preparedness at forefront for health care facilities. The conference will address making preparations for sudden environmental catastrophes resulting in mass casualties, as well as the dangers of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, featuring presentations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“We are proud to work with OSHA to conduct this critical meeting at a time when health care facilities are faced with preparing for many different types of disasters,” says Karen H. Timmons, president and chief executive officer, Joint Commission Resources. “By providing guidance to hospitals on how to protect and prepare their first receivers during a crisis, we can help save lives.”

“This seminar will offer guidance and expertise from leaders in the field of emergency management in government, academia and health care,” says Jonathan L. Snare, acting assistant secretary of Labor, OSHA. “It will help hospitals make sound decisions that best protect and train first receivers.”

Key conference topics include:

-- defense from exposure to dangerous chemicals including

-- weapons of mass destruction;

-- practical solutions for establishing decontamination and protective equipment plans;

-- community-based preparedness communication and collaboration processes.

The conference also will include discussion by representatives from hospitals who have first-hand experience in planning for or responding to a mass casualty incident.

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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.

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