TRENTON – In an effort to continue to strengthen the ability of New Jersey’s health care facilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has awarded $5 million in grants to acute care hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

The grants were awarded to 80 acute care hospitals and 14 federally qualified health centers  (FQHCs) in New Jersey to enhance their capabilities to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents.

  “New Jersey’s healthcare facilities must be prepared to both prevent and treat disease outbreaks as well as protect health care professionals who work at these facilities,” said DHSS Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D. “This funding will help these facilities continue to build on their preparedness initiatives and continue to protect the health and safety of New Jersey families.”

The grants were made available through funding from the Federal  Health Resource and Services Administration.   Acute care hospitals and FQHCs were eligible to apply for the funding. Hospitals received up to $60,000 and FQHCs received up to $20,000 per facility. With this grant cycle,  DHSS has awarded more than $18.4 million to health care facilities to address preparedness needs during the last three years.

The funds can be used by facilities to purchase necessary equipment such as beds;  to expand isolation, decontamination and communication capabilities; and to build caches of pharmaceutical supplies and personal protection equipment.  The grant can also be used for  staff education and training and to conduct preparedness drills and exercises.

All grant applicants are required to assess and document how the purchase of identified supplies and equipment would augment their  current disaster plan; enhance current  capacity for emergency care, treatment of mass casualties, and management of infectious diseases; upgrade isolation and decontamination facilities; and contribute to regionalized public health response.

FQHCs provide comprehensive primary medical care services with a culturally sensitive, family-oriented focus to anyone needing care, regardless of ability to pay. These centers tailor their services to meet the specific needs of the community and its special populations.

Detailed lists of the FQHC (http://www.nj.gov/health/er/documents/fqhc_awards.pdf) and hospital (http://www.nj.gov/health/er/documents/hospitals_awards.pdf) are on the NJ DHSS website.

 In addition to the grants announced today, over the last three years, the State of New Jersey has also dedicated the following funding to hospitals in New Jersey:

•           $7.5 million for development of public health emergency regional coordination centers.

•           $2 million for personal protective equipment, decontamination and emergency preparedness.

•           $2 million for the strategic state stockpile of medications, vaccines, antidotes, and safety equipment for use during health emergencies.

•           $1.2 million for hospital to enhance their smallpox preparedness planning efforts.

For more information on New Jersey’s preparedness efforts, visit the Department web site at www.state.nj.us/health.