ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) prepares the health care delivery system to meet community needs and save lives during disasters and emergencies. Health care entities normally operate independently of one another as they provide care to people in communities across the country; however, when disaster strikes, these entities must have strong plans and partnerships in place to overcome the challenges they face and help save lives.
Established in 2002 to prepare the nation’s health care delivery system for emergencies in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, 2001 anthrax attacks, and other disasters and public health emergencies, HPP is now in its third decade. ASPR continues to evolve and strengthen HPP to address the shifting threat landscape. HPP’s impact during recent responses clearly demonstrates that investment in health care readiness saves lives and improves patient outcomes. HPP is the primary source of federal funding for health care preparedness and response.
Through HPP, ASPR provides funding and guidance to
62 recipients, including governments of all U.S. states, territories and freely associated states, the District of Columbia, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles County. HPP recipients in turn distribute funding, resources, and other support to health care coalitions (HCCs) within their jurisdictions. An HCC is a network of individual public and private health care and response organizations in a defined geographic location that partner to conduct preparedness activities (e.g., exercises, training) and collaborate to ensure that each member has what it needs to respond to disasters and public health emergencies (e.g., equipment and supplies, real-time information, communication systems). HPP enables the formation of public-private partnerships among multiple types of health care, public health, emergency management organizations, and other partners empowering health care entities across the nation to save lives during disasters and emergencies.
HPP is a key program within ASPR’s Office of Health Care Readiness. This office provides resources for health care at the local, regional, and national levels as part of ASPR’s vision for a nation more prepared to prevent, respond to, recover from, and build resiliency for public health emergencies and disasters.
