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BACKGROUND: The Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) framework was developed after the World Trade Center attacks when it became apparent that emergency responders might develop long-term health effects and a desire to better protect emergency responders in the future. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Capabilities provide minimum standards for state and local health departments to meet in order to better respond to future disasters and emergencies. PHEP Capability 14 specifically addresses Responder Safety and Health, and ERHMS is a useful tool for meeting PHEP Capability 14.
METHODS: Since the National Response Team published the ERHMS documents in 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been assisting responder agencies with implementing the ERHMS framework and meeting PHEP Capability 14 through classroom and online trainings as well as software development.
RESULTS: Several responder organizations including public health agencies have begun implementing ERHMS into their PHEP Capability 14 preparedness plans. These successes will be described. As well as an opportunity for interested organizations to ask questions about the process. Many agencies are interested in the ERHMS software under development in meeting their needs for roster and training management, health screening, during deployment monitoring, surveillance, analysis and reporting, and post-deployment assessment and long-term follow-up. Progress in software development and opportunities for partnering with NIOSH during the pilot testing phase will be discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: ERHMS provides a framework for protecting emergency responders before, during and after deployment and assists public health agencies with meeting PHEP Capability 14, Responder Safety and Health.