Parrish Medical Center Care Partners Attend FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness Week

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (April 26, 2024)—Parrish Medical Center is proud to announce that four dedicated Care Partners completed Hurricane Theme Week at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) last week. The weeklong event is tailored for emergency management personnel in hurricane-prone areas and offered crucial training courses aimed at enhancing preparedness and response capabilities.

Care Partners representing Parrish Medical Center included: Ericka Jacobs, MSN, RN, Emergency and Women’s Services Director; Leigh Spradling, CHEP, Emergency Services Specialist; Regan Wagner, CIC, Infection Prevention Professional; and Jose Perez, Biomed Technician. Combined, they completed the following interdisciplinary training exercises: Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents (HCL), Hospital Emergency Response Operations for Mass Casualty Incidents (HERT) and Barrier Precautions and Controls for Highly Infectious Disease (HID). At the end of the training week, they also completed an Integrated Capstone Event (ICE), a comprehensive exercise that simulated real-world incidents and allowed for collaboration and the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills.

Parrish Medical Center Emergency and Women’s Services Director, Ericka Jacobs, shares her excitement for attending the Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents (HCL) training. “As Emergency Department Director, it’s imperative that we equip ourselves with all the necessary skills to lead effectively during mass casualty incidents. Attending this training was incredibly informative, and allowed us an opportunity to work through uncertainties and unforeseen challenges collectively.”

Parrish Medical Center Infection Prevention Professional, Regan Wagner attended the Barrier Precautions and Controls for Highly Infectious Disease training. “As an infectious disease professional, this training has been extremely insightful. It has strengthened my pre-existing skillset and enhanced my ability to navigate some of the complex challenges that accompany the heightened risk of infectious diseases during a natural disaster.”

According to FEMA, more than 140 healthcare and emergency response professionals from hurricane prone areas attended Hurricane Theme Week. Parrish Medical Center recognizes the importance of preparedness and ongoing training to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. “Through initiatives such as FEMA’s Hurricane Theme Week, we remain committed to equipping our staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to respond effectively to emergencies,” added Parrish Medical Center Emergency Services Specialist Leigh Spradling.

For more information on FEMA’s CDP, please visit cdp.dhs.gov. For additional information on Parrish Medical Center, or Parrish Healthcare, please visit www.parrishhealthcare.com.