FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NDMS
More information can be obtained by visiting our Internet site at http://www.oep_ndms.dhhs.gov
If you do not have Internet access or have additional questions, call NDMS headquarters at
1-800-USA-NDMS and press the "*" (star) key to leave a message requesting information. A staff member will return your call.
What is NDMS?
The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is a Federally coordinated system that augments the Nation's emergency medical response capability. The overall purpose of the NDMS is to establish a single integrated National medical response capability for assisting State and local authorities in dealing with the medical and health effects of major peacetime disasters and providing support to the military and Veterans Health Administration medical systems in caring for casualties evacuated back to the U.S. from overseas armed conflicts.
What is a Disaster Medical Assistance Team?
A Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is composed of professional and paraprofessional medical personnel (supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff) designed to provide emergency medical care during a disaster or other event. In mass casualty incidents, their responsibilities include triaging patients, providing austere medical care, and preparing patients for evacuation. In other situations, DMATs may provide primary health care or augment overloaded health care staffs.
How do I join a DMAT?
All the information you need to join a DMAT is located at our Internet site. Download the forms and fill them out and mail them to the team leader in your area.
How do I start a DMAT?
Again use our Internet site and refer to the section on organizing DMATs.
What is a Management Support Unit?
A Management Support Unit (MSU) provides field command and control in a disaster for deployed Federal medical assets. The MSU can provide and coordinate communications, transportation, a medical cache, and other logistical support to DMATs and Specialty teams.
How will the DMATs and Specialty Teams train?
In each NDMS area, DMATs and Specialty Teams are organized by a sponsor, usually a major medical center, health department, or disaster organization. These organizations will provide short training classes (average 3 days annually) and exercises for medical response that will be part of community disaster response training.
What are Federal Coordinating Centers?
Federal Coordinating Centers (FCCs) recruit hospitals and maintain local non-Federal hospital participation in the NDMS; assist in the recruitment, training, and support of DMATs; coordinate exercise development and emergency plans with participating hospitals and other local authorities in order to develop patient reception, transportation, and communication plans; and, during System activation, coordinate the reception and distribution of patients being evacuated to the area.
What is the hospital's role in NDMS?
Accredited hospitals, usually over 100 beds in size and located in large U.S. metropolitan areas, are encouraged to enter into a voluntary agreement with NDMS. Hospitals agree to commit a number of their acute care beds, subject to availability, for NDMS patients. Because this is a completely voluntary program, hospitals may, upon activation of the System, provide more or fewer beds than the number committed in the agreement. Hospitals that admit NDMS patients will be reimbursed by the Federal government.
How will patients be evacuated, received, and transported to the participating hospitals?
At the disaster site, patients will be stabilized by DMATs or Specialty Teams for transport. In most cases, patients will be evacuated by the DoD aeromedical evacuation system. Patients will be regulated to FCC areas. At the airport of the NDMS reception area, patients will be met by a local medical team that will sort, assess, and match those patients to participating hospitals, according to procedures developed by local authorities and the local area's NDMS Federal Coordinating Center. Patients will be transported to participating hospitals using locally organized ground and air transport.
Advantages of Participating in NDMS
Although the NDMS is designed to respond to major disasters, there are immediate regional benefits to States and local communities that participate in the system. Once organized and trained, DMATs, Specialty Teams and other elements of the NDMS could be available to respond to local mass casualty incidents or on an intra-State basis. Thus, the NDMS not only enhances Nationwide medical response capability, it also improves the ability of participating States and localities to respond to disasters within their own jurisdictions and under their own authorities.
How can I get more information?
USPHS Office of Emergency Preparedness
National Disaster Medical System
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 360
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(301) 443-1167 or 800-USA-NDMS
(301) 443-5146 (FAX) or 800-USA-KWIK (FAX)
Revised: September 26, 1997