Common use of Alternate Care Systems Clause in Contracts

Alternate Care Systems. An alternate care system, defined as the use of nontraditional settings and modalities for health care delivery, may be required when demand overwhelms a region or the nation’s health care delivery system for a prolonged period, or an emergency has significantly damaged infrastructure and limited access to health care. HCCs should plan to provide support, including personnel and supplies, to public health agencies and emergency management organizations that have leadership roles in selecting, establishing, and operating alternative care sites. Accordingly, HPP awardees and HCCs should plan for the development of alternate care systems, in collaboration with state and local public health agencies and emergency management organizations, prior to the conclusion of the five-year project period. However, the development of an alternate care system does not begin and end with identification of alternate care sites. HPP awardees and HCCs are encouraged to consider additional factors in their alternate care system activities prior to the conclusion of the five-year project period:  Establishment of telemedicine or virtual medicine capabilities  Establishment of assessment and screening centers for early treatment  Provision of medical care at shelters  Assisting with the selection and operation of alternate care sites More information about the development of alternate care systems can be found in Capability 4, Objective 2, Activity 3 of the 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities.‌‌ Activity 4: Address Specialty Surge HPP Requirements‌ Pediatric Care Each HCC should promote its members’ planning for pediatric medical emergencies and xxxxxx relationships and initiatives with emergency departments that are able to stabilize and manage pediatric medical emergencies. HPP awardees must collaborate with the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program within its jurisdiction to better meet the needs of children receiving emergency medical care. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the EMSC program at the federal level, and HRSA awardees may be state agencies or accredited schools of medicine. This program works to ensure that critically ill and injured children receive optimal pediatric emergency care. Following are specific areas of collaboration.  HPP awardees and the EMSC program awardees within their jurisdictions must provide a joint letter of support indicating that EMSC and HPP are linked at the awardee level. HPP awardees must provide the initial letter of support with their funding applications at the beginning of each budget period throughout the five-year project period.  HPP awardees must work with HCCs and EMSC to ensure that all hospitals are prepared to receive, stabilize, and manage pediatric patients. At the end of each budget period, HRSA will provide HPP with data regarding each hospital’s capability to manage pediatric medical emergencies to assist with this work. EMSC awardee contact information is available in the PERFORMS Resource Library or via HPP FPOs.

Alternate Care Systems. An alternate care system, defined as the use of nontraditional settings and modalities for health care delivery, may be required when demand overwhelms a region or the nation’s health care delivery system for a prolonged period, or an emergency has significantly damaged infrastructure and limited access to health care. HCCs should plan to provide support, including personnel and supplies, to public health agencies and emergency management organizations that have leadership roles in selecting, establishing, and operating alternative care sites. Accordingly, HPP awardees and HCCs should plan for the development of alternate care systems, in collaboration with state and local public health agencies and emergency management organizations, prior to the conclusion of the five-year project period. However, the development of an alternate care system does not begin and end with identification of alternate care sites. HPP awardees and HCCs are encouraged to consider additional factors in their alternate care system activities prior to the conclusion of the five-year project period:  • Establishment of telemedicine or virtual medicine capabilities  • Establishment of assessment and screening centers for early treatment  • Provision of medical care at shelters  • Assisting with the selection and operation of alternate care sites More information about the development of alternate care systems can be found in Capability 4, Objective 2, Activity 3 of the 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities.‌‌ Activity 4: Address Specialty Surge HPP Requirements‌ Pediatric Care Each HCC should promote its members’ planning for pediatric medical emergencies and xxxxxx relationships and initiatives with emergency departments that are able to stabilize and manage pediatric medical emergencies. HPP awardees must collaborate with the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program within its jurisdiction to better meet the needs of children receiving emergency medical care. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers the EMSC program at the federal level, and HRSA awardees may be state agencies or accredited schools of medicine. This program works to ensure that critically ill and injured children receive optimal pediatric emergency care. Following are specific areas of collaboration.  • HPP awardees and the EMSC program awardees within their jurisdictions must provide a joint letter of support indicating that EMSC and HPP are linked at the awardee level. HPP awardees must provide the initial letter of support with their funding applications at the beginning of each budget period throughout the five-year project period.  • HPP awardees must work with HCCs and EMSC to ensure that all hospitals are prepared to receive, stabilize, and manage pediatric patients. At the end of each budget period, HRSA will provide HPP with data regarding each hospital’s capability to manage pediatric medical emergencies to assist with this work. EMSC awardee contact information is available in the PERFORMS Resource Library or via HPP FPOs.