 |
| |
|
| |
WHAT IS A DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM (DMAT)? A DMAT is a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel (supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff) designed to provide medical care during a disaster or other event. NDMS recruits personnel for specific vacancies, plans for training opportunities, and coordinates the deployment of the teams. DMATs are designed to be a rapid-response element to supplement local medical care until other Federal or contract resources can be mobilized, or the situation is resolved. DMATs deploy to disaster sites with sufficient supplies and equipment to sustain themselves for a period of 72 hours while providing medical care at a fixed or temporary medical care site. The personnel are activated for a period of two weeks. In mass casualty incidents, their responsibilities may include triaging patients, providing high-quality medical care despite the adverse and austere environment often found at a disaster site, patient reception at staging facilities and preparing patients for evacuation. Under the rare circumstance that disaster victims are evacuated to a different locale to receive definitive medical care, DMATs may be activated to support patient reception and disposition of patients to hospitals. DMATs are principally a community resource available to support local, regional, and State requirements. However, as a National resource they can be federalized NDMS/DMAT personnel are required to maintain appropriate certifications and licensure within their discipline. When personnel are activated as Federal employees, licensure and certification is recognized by all States. Additionally, DMAT personnel are paid while serving as intermittent federal employees and have the protection of the Federal Tort Claims Act in which the Federal Government becomes the defendant in the event of a malpractice claim. How do I join a DMAT? We are looking for qualified, energetic individuals to join our team. You do not have to have a medical background. If you are interested in finding out more about DMAT CA-1, complete the Applicant Interest Form, Download the form here(insert link). Return to the team as directed. If you don't live in our area please go to this site or look at our Links for a DMAT near you. We are looking for qualified, energetic individuals to join our team. You do not have to have a medical background. If you are what we are looking for at this time please go to this page to start the process. Find out more about HHS NDMS:www.phe.gov If you don't live in our area please look at our Links page for a DMAT near you.
How does DMAT train? We have training lectures at our monthly meeting. In addition we have two drills a year that last from 2 to 4 days. The State of California sponsors one of these.
How will patients be evacuated, received, and transported to the participating hospitals? At the disaster site, patients will be stabilized by DMATs or Specialty Teams for transport. In most cases, patients will be evacuated by the DoD aeromedical evacuation system. Patients will be regulated to FCC areas. At the airport of the NDMS reception area, patients will be met by a local medical team that will sort, assess, and match those patients to participating hospitals, according to procedures developed by local authorities and the local area's NDMS Federal Coordinating Center. Patients will be transported to participating hospitals using locally organized ground and air transport. Do we get paid? Members get paid (according to their Job Rating) when we are Federally deployed. We do not get paid for State or County deployments, training and meetings.
If I join do I have to go on deployments? If you accept a deployment, yes you have to go. You are covered under USERA.
How long are deployments? Deployment times vary but you should be able to commit to 10 to 14 days.
Will I receive training. Yes, we offer training at our monthly meetings as well as Continuing Education Units and at any special training's the team may schedule.
I am physically handicapped, can I still participate? To be deployed you must be in good physical condition, however, we have a limited number of Home Team positions available.
What gear must I furnish? You must furnish your uniform (khaki BDU), your meals for 72 hours and some safety equipment such as gloves, ear plugs and a hard hat. We have a limited number of back packs and sleeping bags available.
Where might we be deployed to?
DMATs can be deployed to any location within the US, its possessions and potentially internationally.
What is NDMS? The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is a Federally coordinated system that augments the Nation's emergency medical response capability. The overall purpose of the NDMS is to establish a single integrated National medical response capability for assisting State and local authorities in dealing with the medical and health effects of major peacetime disasters and providing support to the military and Veterans Health Administration medical systems in caring for casualties evacuated back to the U.S. from overseas armed conflicts.
Advantages of Participating in NDMS Although the NDMS is designed to respond to major disasters, there are immediate regional benefits to States and local communities that participate in the system. Once organized and trained, DMATs, Specialty Teams and other elements of the NDMS could be available to respond to local mass casualty incidents or on an intra-State basis. Thus, the NDMS not only enhances Nationwide medical response capability, it also improves the ability of participating States and localities to respond to disasters within their own jurisdictions and under their own authorities.
What is the hospital's role in NDMS? Accredited hospitals, usually over 100 beds in size and located in large U.S. metropolitan areas, are encouraged to enter into a voluntary agreement with NDMS. Hospitals agree to commit a number of their acute care beds, subject to availability, for NDMS patients. Because this is a completely voluntary program, hospitals may, upon activation of the System, provide more or fewer beds than the number committed in the agreement. Hospitals that admit NDMS patients will be reimbursed by the Federal government.
What are Federal Coordinating Centers? Federal Coordinating Centers (FCC's) recruit hospitals and maintain local non-Federal hospital participation in the NDMS; assist in the recruitment, training, and support of DMATs; coordinate exercise development and emergency plans with participating hospitals and other local authorities in order to develop patient reception, transportation, and communication plans; and, during System activation, coordinate the reception and distribution of patients being evacuated to the area.
What is a Management Support Unit? A Management Support Unit (MSU) provides field command and control in a disaster for deployed Federal medical assets. The MSU can provide and coordinate communications, transportation, a medical cache, and other logistical support to DMATs and Specialty teams.