Dept of Health: VDH Deputy Commissioner Testifies on Capitol Hill
- The State of Hospital Emergency Surge

FROM THE DEPT OF HEALTH

May 05, 2008

Dr. Lisa Kaplowitz, Deputy Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs testified on Capitol Hill on the state of hospital emergency surge capacity. She spoke Monday, May 5 before the House Oversight Committee Hearing on Medicaid Regulations and Hospital Emergency Capacity on the challenges facing Virginia’s hospitals and health system. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) chaired the first of two committee hearings to examine the nation’s hospital emergency surge capacity and the effect of Medicaid regulations on hospitals' ability to respond to a mass casualty event. Physicians with expertise in emergency services testified before the committee.

Below is a summary of Dr. Kaplowitz testimony:

Hospital and health-system emergency preparedness can be achieved only through close collaboration and regional planning efforts for public health and health care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and all health care and mental health providers.

A coordinated trauma system is important, but there must be a well-conceived trauma and health care surge plan to effectively respond to large scale events. Trauma care provided only through designated trauma centers will not be adequate or appropriate for a mass casualty event.

There remains a need for continued federal funding for public health and health care preparedness efforts as well as for Medicaid support of health care facilities and providers.