The NMDOH BHEM is strengthening emergency preparedness and response capabilities statewide by ensuring a coordinated and effective response to healthcare-related emergencies and disasters. - ASPR Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the New Mexico Healthcare Coalition (NMHCC) The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the New Mexico Healthcare Coalition (NMHCC). This initiative is part of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), which requires grant recipients to invest in Healthcare Coalitions (HCCs). HCCs are networks of public and private healthcare and response organizations within a specific geographic area that collaborate to enhance disaster and emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Purpose and Utilization of Funding: The funding allocated for the NMHCC will be utilized for various essential activities, including the procurement of coalition materials, provision of training, coordination of travel, and enhancement of response coordination. Additionally, the grant supports two Regional Preparedness Coordinators who are tasked with managing regional response activities, training sessions, exercises, and meeting preparations. These coordinators also collaborate with the Healthcare Preparedness and Response Section of the Bureau of Health Emergency Management to bolster statewide HPP initiatives and provide local support to State Emergency Support Function #8 (ESF-8) Representatives. Upon receipt of the notice of grant award (NOGA), a subrecipient Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is executed with a fiduciary agent in accordance with ASPR requirements. Whole-of-Community Approach: The ASPR-HPP grant employs a whole-of-community approach, connecting healthcare entities at local, state, tribal, regional, and national levels to effectively plan for and respond to emergencies and disasters. This comprehensive strategy aims to: • Address Community Needs: Ensure healthcare entities can meet the emergency needs of their communities. • Build Connectivity: Integrate and coordinate recipient public health agencies, HCCs, and coalition members to ensure equitable access to care for all individuals. • Save Lives: Enable the healthcare delivery system to maintain care during disasters or emergencies, thereby improving patient outcomes and saving lives. Expected Outcomes: The anticipated outcomes of the ASPR-HPP grant include: 1. Establish and Act on Multi-Year Priorities: • Enhance the healthcare delivery system's readiness to respond to evolving threats and community needs over multiple years. • Promote continuous programmatic and administrative improvements based on established multi-year priorities. 2. Enhance and Sustain HCCs: • Develop HCC governance, management, and operations that reflect robust community partnerships. 3. Coordination: • Facilitate coordinated planning and decision-making among healthcare delivery system partners. • Ensure integrated health care response incident management among state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, HCCs, and other partners (Emergency Support Function #8 [ESF-8] – Public Health and Medical Services). 4. Continuity of Healthcare Service Delivery: • Foster a resilient healthcare workforce capable of safely meeting the demands of response and recovery. • Ensure sufficient space, systems, staff, and resources to support patient movement and care delivery during response and recovery phases. By focusing on these objectives, the NMHCC aims to create a robust and responsive healthcare system capable of effectively managing emergencies and disasters, ensuring the health and safety of all community members.
