The evolution of healthcare disaster preparedness and response training at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness.

The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is using a multiagency/organization, targeted, collaborative approach to adjust existing courses and develop responsive new courses to provide best practices education and experiential learning techniques in healthcare facility emergency resilience, preparedness, response, and recovery applicable to all first receivers. The CDP in Anniston, AL, is a Federal Emergency Management Agency training facility for the Nation's state, local, tribal, and territorial first responders and healthcare professionals. The Center's role has rapidly evolved to provide healthcare emergency preparedness, response, and management training. Through the integration of its Noble Training Facility, a former military hospital, the training courses replicate disaster and mass casualty emergency situations. Patient simulators enable triage and assessment of treatment for mass casualty surge skills application while an isolation ward serves as a training laboratory for the care of patients with infectious diseases of specific concern. Ambulance simulators and an eight-bay treatment area add authenticity to an integrated capstone event accompanying select classes.

The evolution of response and management training at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) was established in 1998 and is now 20 years old. In its short history, the CDP has significantly evolved the relevance and responsiveness of its courses and its capability to provide high-fidelity, hands-on training, and exercises to meet the demanding needs of today's responders. This article discusses the basis of need for a competent, responder training program; the genesis of the CDP as a no-cost provider of responder training for state, local, tribal, and territorial responders; describes the current training opportunities available to responders; previews emerging training opportunities that are under development or envisioned in the very near future; and provides insight to the future progression of the CDP as it continues to expand and evolve its role as FEMA's premiere, responder focused, hands-on training provider.