Gov. Adds to Preparedness Plan

Taking a major step forward to implement New Jersey’s comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness and response plan, Governor James E. McGreevey announced yesterday that an 800-megahertz radio communications system will be installed in each of the State’s 85 acute care hospitals.

Joined at the Jersey City Medical Center press conference by Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management Captain Kevin Hayden, Governor McGreevey said that the installation of the radio system will make New Jersey the first state in the nation to have its acute care hospitals interconnected by a non-interruptible interoperable communications system. The system is being implemented in partnership with the New Jersey Hospital Association.

“This radio system will ensure that – regardless of the circumstances - New Jersey’s hospitals are able to communicate effectively,” said McGreevey. “This is a critical public health issue, and New Jersey is leading the way.”

The radio system, called the New Jersey Hospital Communications Network, will allow hospitals to communicate with each other and with key State government agencies when traditional modes of communication are inoperable, such as in the event of a disaster or public health emergency.

“Disasters often cause disorganization, lack of coordination, and confusion. At those times, the need for accurate and timely information is essential to make effective decisions and coordinate an appropriate response,” said Clifton R. Lacy. MD, New Jersey Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.

In addition to acute care hospitals, the New Jersey Hospital Communications Network will interconnect the three New Jersey State Emergency Operations Centers, located in Mercer, Warren and Cape May counties; the three regional Emergency Medical Service communication centers in Newark, New Brunswick and Voorhees; the Statehouse; the Department of Health and Senior Services; the State Police Office of Emergency Management; the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force; the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Hospital Association.

The New Jersey Hospital Communications Network will piggyback upon the radio network of the New Jersey State Police. It will provide a 24/7/365 alerting mechanism so individual institutions or groups of institutions can receive notification and communicate individually or as a talk group. A total of 100 radios have been ordered, at a total cost of $1.55 million. 85 of the radios are being purchased by the New Jersey Hospital Association, and 15 by the State’s Department of Health and Senior Services.

The radio communications system was one of the recommendations of the Medical Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response Expert Panel (MEDPREP). MEDPREP was formed in November 2001 by then Governor-Elect McGreevey to develop an agile, coordinated and comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness and response plan for New Jersey. Chaired by Commissioner Lacy, MEDPREP is comprised of 25 of New Jersey’s leading experts in emergency medicine, infectious diseases, trauma/triage, emergency medical services, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and hospitals/healthcare facilities, as well as representatives of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Office of Counter-Terrorism.

Governor McGreevey has dedicated $12.5 million in the FY03 budget to implement the MEDPREP recommendations as part of the Department of Health and Senior Services Terrorism and Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. This state funding supplements $27.2 in federal funding New Jersey has received to strengthen its statewide public health system and regional hospital preparedness.

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Author: Press Release-Kevin Davett