HHS Grants $390 Million for Preparedness Planning

For the month of July, healthcare organizations will receive grants from Health and Human Services totaling $390 million to strengthen their medical surge capability.

HHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will issue the 2010 funds through the Hospital Preparedness Program. The grants are intended to bolster the ability of hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond to the public health emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or acts of terrorism.

All states, territories, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles County and Washington, DC, will receive grants to develop the following:

—Interoperable communication systems
—Systems to track available hospital beds
—Advance registration of volunteer health professionals
—Processes for hospital evacuations or sheltering
—Processes for fatality management
—Healthcare partnerships at the community level

—Hospital participation in statewide and regional exercise programs

Various grants received:

—California, $32 million
—Los Angeles County, $12.3 million
—New York State, $13.6 million
—New York City, $10.2 million
—Texas, $28.2 million
—Florida, $22 million

For a complete list of 2010 Hospital Preparedness Program grants, visit: http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/planning/hpp/pages/default.aspx.