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| Contact: Christine Hill 612-873-5719 |
04/04/08 |
Hennepin County Medical Center and the Metropolitan Hospital Compact (MHC) Behavioral Health Workgroup are presenting a 2-day conference on April 8 & 9 to provide awareness of disaster behavioral health issues for hospitals, clinics and their community partners, by integrating response planning and strategies with an "All Hazards" philosophy.
"An `All Hazards' philosophy means that we plan for all types of incidents including natural and manmade disasters," explains Mark Lappe, Hennepin County Medical Center's Director of Safety and Security. "This is important for our communities because it allows us to be capable of responding to a wide variety of unpredictable threats and dangers."
The 2-day event will feature speakers who will help participants recognize the psychological impact or "footprint" disasters can leave on those involved. Through hearing stories from victims of the 35W bridge collapse, special topics in disaster behavioral health, and disaster behavioral health planning, response, and recovery, participants will form an understanding of what kind of impact those psychological "footprints" can leave behind.
The conference is designed for local and regional hospitals, community-based healthcare providers, law enforcement personnel, first responders and partners in the private and non-profit sectors who will be on the front lines responding to disasters.
What: Psychological Footprint of Disasters: A Step in the Right Direction
Who: Hennepin County Medical Center and the Metropolitan Hospital Compact (MHC) Behavioral Health Workgroup
Where: Earle Brown Heritage Center, 6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
When: Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9, 2008
How: For more information and to register for the 2-day conference, visit www.hcmc.org/cmebrochres.htm.
Hennepin County Medical Center is a Level 1 Trauma Center and public teaching hospital repeatedly recognized as one of America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Hennepin County Medical Center is designated by the Minnesota Department of Health as the Regional Hospital Resource Center for the Twin Cities Metro Area in the event of a large-scale emergency.
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