Regional Resource Center Facts

Why is SUNY Upstate the Regional Resource Center (RRC)?

  1. The RRC concept builds off of the pre-existing regional trauma center designation
  2. The RRC is selected by the New York State Department of Health and funded by a Department of Homeland Security grant.

 

What geographic area does the Regional Resource Center cover?

  1. The SUNY Upstate RRC covers a 13 county region in Central New York that extends from the Canadian border to Pennsylvania.
  2. There are 22 acute care facilities in the region and approximately 90 long term care facilities.
  3. Geography: 11,349 square miles
  4. Population: 1,619,516 according to the 2000 census
  5. Total Certified Hospital Beds: 4,930

 

 

What activities is the Regional Resource Center involved in?

Surge Capacity Planning

  1. Developing a regional surge capacity plan and a regional mutual aid agreement that includes hospitals, long term care and homecare.
  2. Stockpiling of Personal Protective Equipment (N-95 respirators, gowns and gloves)
  3. Assisting with expansion of the NYS Fairgrounds Infirmary
  4. Purchasing of specialized equipment  such as respirators

Supporting and Sponsoring Training

  1. Pediatric and Trauma training for ED RNs (ENPC and TNCC)
  2. Rural Trauma Team Development Program that includes burn care
  3. Behavioral Health Training for regional staff
  4. Burn Training for regional staff
  5. Hazmat Operations Level Training
  6. Hospital Incident Command System Training
  7. Advance Hazmat Life Support Program (AHLS)
  8. Basic Disaster Life Support Course (BDLS)
  9. Advanced Disaster Life Support Course (ADLS)

Decontamination

  1. Increasing decontamination capacity with the purchase of  PAPRS and chemical protective suits, boots and gloves for regional facilities

Communications

  1. Supplying fixed and handheld satellite phones to all the hospital facilities in the region that needed this equipment
  2. Working with Onondaga County Health Department to compliment MMRS funding of video conferencing equipment for the regional facilities

Networking with Regional Partners

  1. Visiting regional facilities to assist with emergency preparedness planning and exercise participation
  2. Co-chairing Regional Preparedness Council meetings that include hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinators, Public Health representatives and Regional NYS DOH Representatives
  3. Communicating routinely to hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinators
  4. Participating with various Emergency Management groups in the region.
  5. Working with SUNY Upstate Medical University, Emergency Medicine Department and the NYS Fairgrounds on the Infirmary expansion

Contact Information:
Donna Sowles, RN
Regional Resource Center Coordinator
sowlesd@upstate.edu
315-464-2982