6.3 - National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)

The National Disaster Medical System is a public/private partnership to provide both emergency health care services and definitive medical care to disaster victims when state and local resources are overwhelmed. The system can also be used in wartime for the care of active duty military casualties if DoD and VA treatment capacity is exceeded. At the national level the partnership includes DoD, FEMA, HHS and VA. VA’s role in NDMS is one of coordination of various NDMS areas throughout the United States. No VA beds are provided as part of the NDMS.

There are three circumstances under which the NDMS may be activated:

·       In response to an overseas military contingency (activated by the Secretary of Defense).

·       Request for major medical assistance directly to the Secretary of HHS (activated by the Secretary HHS).

·       Presidential declaration of a disaster under the Federal Response Plan (activated by the Secretary HHS).

6.3.1 - Federal Coordinating Centers - Only specific VAMCs have responsibilities under the NDMS. These facilities are designated as Federal Coordinating Centers (FCCs) for the system in their respective NDMS area. A listing of VA FCCs by VISN is provided as an attachment at the end of this section. The principal responsibilities of the FCCs are as follows:

·       Coordination of NDMS definitive medical care is assigned local areas.

·       Solicitation and organization of local, private sector hospitals and community support services.

·       Enrollment of non-federal local hospitals in NDMS.

·       Coordination and reporting (to GPRMC) of NDMS area bed availability.

·       Coordination with local/State authorities on:

q    Preparing of local NDMS patient reception plans.

q    Planning and conducting annual NDMS exercises.

q    Management of NDMS operations during activation.

 Those VAMCs that are designated as Federal Coordinating Centers (FCCs) for the NDMS have specific responsibilities for development, exercise and activation of supporting plans. These VA FCCs must develop a plan with the community for the reception, transportation, tracking and disposition of casualties being evacuated from the site of a nationally declared disaster. Planning guidance is provided in the Federal Coordinating Center Guide that has been developed and published by the Office of Emergency Preparedness, United States Public Health Services (USPHS), Department of Health and Human Services. Copies of the guide can be obtained directly from them by calling 1-800-USA-NDMS or by writing to:

DIRECTOR NDMS

USPHS/OEP SUITE 360

12300 TWINBROOK PARKWAY

ROCKVILLE MD 20851

 In addition, EMSHG Area Emergency Managers have copies of the guide and can arrange for additional copies if needed.