THE ERIE REGIONAL DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM (DMAT PA-3)
Motivated. Trained. Ready to Serve.
Disaster. In the wake of 9/11, the importance of having a disaster medical assistance team has never been clearer. Whether it’s a tornado, a multi-vehicle highway pileup, or even a personal disaster involving injury or illness in a member of your own family, it’s reassuring to know that there is a team of medical professionals right here in Erie with invaluable hands-on experience in responding to national medical disasters…the Erie Regional Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT PA-3).
As the region’s authority in emergency medicine, Saint Vincent is proud to be the sponsor of DMAT PA-3.
The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has designated Saint Vincent Health Center as the sponsor of Erie Regional DMAT PA-3. A DMAT is made up of both medical and non-medical volunteers who are trained, equipped and prepared for rapid deployment to areas where local resources are overwhelmed during federal emergency situations.
Since its inception in 2002, DMAT-PA3 has been elevated in status twice and is currently a fully deployable Level II team. The full team served in New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MI, and Frederick, MD in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Previous DMAT PA-3 deployments have involved sending individual specialists or various small strike teams from DMAT PA-3 to serve in specific capacities in the wake of Hurricanes Charley, Ivan and Jean, and for assistance during the National Republican Convention in New York City.
Erie Regional DMAT PA-3 is 120 members strong, with team members from communities throughout northwest Pennsylvania and western New York, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, technicians, pharmacists, communications and logistics specialists, administrators and others.
WHAT IS A DMAT?
DMAT stands for Disaster Medical Assistance Team. These local volunteer teams are made up of clinical and non-clinical professionals, and are located throughout the United States. They are credentialed, trained, equipped and ready for rapid deployment to areas of federal disaster where local resources are overwhelmed. The composition of a deployed team varies, depending on the nature of the disaster. If it is a field response, the team will have many EMS providers. If it is a facility response, the team will have hospital personnel. To assure a team is deployable, it needs a pool of approximately 150 volunteers from which to pull. Currently there are only 25 deployable teams in the US.
IS DMAT PARTICIPATION TOTALLY VOLUNTARY?
DMAT members volunteer their time for credentialing and initial training. When deployed, or on an occasional training exercise, team members become employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides for federalization of all professional licenses, federal worker compensation coverage and federal liability coverage. Compensation is based on federal employee rates, depending on the person's position on the team. All transportation, food, clothing and lodging are provided during the deployment. At the time of a request, individuals have the option of signing on for the mission.
WHEN IS DMAT CALLED TO ACTION?
Federal activation is required to deploy a DMAT. There are two types of deployment. The first is during a federal disaster, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or acts of terror such as the attacks on the World Trade Towers and Pentagon. In times of federal disaster, teams usually have 12 to 24 hours notice to have their equipment and personnel ready for transportation. Deployment is usually for a two-week period of time. The second type of activation is pre-deployment to events that have the potential to need medical personnel available quickly. Examples of these have been presidential inaugurations and the Olympic Games. Teams in these cases are given greater advance notice of their deployment.
9 Non-Clinical Positions
2 DMAT Leaders
1 Safety Officer
1 Administrative/Finance Chief
1 Administrative Assistant
1 Logistics Chief
1 Equipment Specialist
2 Communications Officers
20 Clinical Positions
3 Medical Officers
1 Pharmacist
1 Pharmacy Technician
1 Supervisory Nurse Specialist
6 Staff Nurses
4 Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants
4 Paramedics
7 Other Positions
6 other positions, determined by DMAT
1 Home Base Support Person (activated, not deployed)
Join Our Regional DMAT Team Today!
Phone: (814) 452-5911
Email: dmatpa3@svhs.org
Erie Regional Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) PA-3 Brochure
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