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Principal Investigator: James Hodge (JHSPH)

Investigators:

• Jon Vernick (JHSPH)
• Stephen Teret (JHSPH)

Project Objectives:

The primary goal will be to develop a standardized MOU which describes key criteria for mutual aid arrangements between healthcare institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, etc) within a given healthcare system. The project team will strive to develop or describe critical elements for a standard MOU for use within any health system by examining national models and standards (if any). The team will work with the Health Policy and Law group, HRSA Regional Resource Centers, and other agencies to review and study establishment of policies, ethics, and legal standards which are applicable in pre-event awareness, deterrence, and prevention, and management during a high consequence event. Local and state agencies will be approached for assistance in outlining key elements required for effective inter-agency coordination among response agencies and which optimizes integration of the healthcare system within state and local response.

Methods/ Approach:

The team will work with the Health Policy and Law group, HRSA Regional Resource Centers, and other agencies to review and study establishment of policies, ethics, and legal standards which are applicable in pre-event awareness, deterrence, and prevention, and management during a high consequence event. Local and state agencies will be approached for assistance in outlining key elements required for effective inter-agency coordination among response agencies and which optimizes integration of the healthcare system within state and local response.

Project Summary & Planned Activities:

Year 1:

Description of current status of MOUs through literature and web searches, discussion with subject matter experts, and collection of MOUs in current use as part of hospital and health system mutual aid plans as well as current MOUs used among hospitals and external response agencies (public health, fire, EMS, State and Local government).

Year 2:

Analysis of current status and recommendations for standardization through examination of health policy and legal aspects. The project team will draft standard MOUs for review and endorsement by key state and federal stakeholders including DHS.

Year 3:

Development of final template for MOUs for use among health care facilities and agencies within health systems.

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