April 15, 2005

GMC DeWitt Receives Grant For Bioterrorism Preparedness

DeWitt, IA – Before Sept. 11, 2001, a terrorist attack on prominent targets within the United States seemed unimaginable.

Since then, the federal government and state governments have had to prepare for incidents that previously were unthinkable and develop response plans.

Response plans include coordinated response between emergency crews and hospitals and require advance preparation for a number of scenarios.  Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt has received a grant of $64,700 from the Iowa Department of Public Health to prepare for a bioterrorism incident.

Michael Helle, Trauma and Disaster Coordinators, said, “This grant will allow us to take some of the steps that will better prepare us for such an attack.  As unlikely as it seems that there would be a terrorist attack in rural Iowa, we have to think about the possibility and be prepared.’’

Paula River, Manager Outpatient/Acute Education at GMC DeWitt, wrote the grant application.

The grant can be used to purchase equipment, provide preparedness training and test preparedness with an exercise. Helle said a bioterrorism exercise involving the hospital and area fire and police protection agencies will be conducted this summer.

Helle said the grant funds will be used to prepare for a surge in patients that could result from a bioterrorism incident.

The hospital plans to purchase new beds for the Emergency Department. The present department beds will be retained and used as overflow in the event of a patient surge.

The hospital also plans to purchase a transportation ventilator, a pediatric crash cart and new emergency radios.