For more information contact:
Jeanne Brummitt
Emergency Services Director
715-735-4200, ext. 4103
jbrummitt@bamc.org

(Marinette, Wis.) – Bay Area Medical Center, Marinette, Wis., has received $165,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Region 3, Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Steering Committee to subsidize the conversion of patient rooms into airborne infection isolation rooms.

These airborne infection isolation rooms will be used to care for patients who have or are suspected of having an airborne transmitted disease such as the known substances that could be used by terrorists or any other non-terrorist related incident of infectious disease. SARS and smallpox are two examples. The isolation rooms help to contain these airborne transmitted diseases through the use of special filters and air handling systems. These rooms protect hospital staff and other patients from potential contact with these diseases.

“The most important aspect of this funding opportunity,” said David Olson, President and CEO, “has been not only the opportunity to help hospitals acquire needed emergency equipment, but also the coming together of all emergency responders around one table to focus on how they will work together to better protect our community and care for the sick and injured in a mass casualty incident.”

“The driver of these preparedness initiatives has been the terrorist events of September 11, 2001 and the threat of bioterrorism we have already seen in our country,” said Jeanne Brummitt, Director of Emergency Services. “However, all our planning efforts and preparations can also be applied to any mass casualty incident such as a major flu pandemic or the collapse of a building or large seating structure.”

The Region 3 Hospital Bioterrorism Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from each hospital in the region as well as local health departments, local emergency management organizations and emergency medical services organizations.

These funds have been made available to hospitals through the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Program. These funds come from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospitals have also been the recipient of grant funds to purchase additional stores of personal protective equipment for hospital staff who will provide direct care for affected patients.