March 25, 2002—State Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Homeland Security, provided Texas Hospital Association (THA) members with an update on the state’s activities to ensure readiness for bioterrorism or chemical attacks as well as natural and man-made disasters.
Speaking at a THA-sponsored seminar on “Thinking Through the Unthinkable: The Role of Health Care Providers During a Disaster,” Sen. Shapiro compared emergency readiness to the role of firemen who are prepared and waiting to respond to a fire. The same type of readiness must be available for bioterrorism.
Acknowledging hospitals’ important roles in treating victims of disasters, Sen. Shapiro noted that hospitals also would play an important role in identifying the release of a biological or chemical agent manifested in patients, and helping alert appropriate officials to implement procedures to stop the spread of communicable diseases.
Among the public health recommendations from the governor’s task force that Sen. Shapiro highlighted were the following:
- Updating state laboratories and building two new ones to help detect a bioterrorism event.
- Creating a Preparedness Coordinating Council, led by the Texas Department of Health.
- Enhancing the communications structure within the health community, including participation by all public health offices in the Health Alert Network, and ultimately, involving all hospitals, emergency services and schools.
For more information, contact Amanda Engler at 512/465-1050.
