Emergency Medical Services and Public Health Emergency Preparedness

CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule requires healthcare providers to participate in emergency preparedness activities. The rule applies to 17 different provider and supplier types, including outpatient surgery, home health agencies, physical therapy offices, and others. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program coordinates information to healthcare providers.

Disaster Healthcare Coalition

The San Luis Obispo County Disaster Healthcare Coalition (SLO-DHCC - formerly the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee-PHEPAC) is a group of healthcare partners that collaboratively work together during emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Organizations benefit from information and resource sharing as well as local training and exercises for staff education. The DHCC is managed by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program.

DHCC Governance-Structure

Emergency Planning-Access and Functional Needs

All individuals, with or without disabilities, can decrease the impact of a disaster by taking steps to prepare before an event occurs. The resources below will help individuals with access and functional needs prepare for disasters. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program manages information shown below.

EMSA Committees

Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC)

The EMCC is dedicated to assuring optimal prehospital care and improving the quality of the emergency medical care delivery system in the County of San Luis Obispo on matters relating to local emergency medical services. The EMCC meets the third Thursday of every other month and is open to the public.

Healthcare Coalition Exercises

Every year, the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department coordinates and conducts exercises to test the medical and health system’s ability to respond to disasters.

Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC)

The Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) Program is authorized by the California Health and Safety Code Section 1797.153. The MHOAC position represents the single point of contact for the MHOAC program and is responsible for monitoring and ensuring adequate medical and health resources are in place during a local emergency. The MHOAC is authorized to make and respond to requests for mutual aid from out of San Luis Obispo County.

During non-emergency operations and the initial phases of an emergency, the MHOAC Program operates in a duty officer mode and is on-call 24/7. Once the County Health Agency Department Operations Center (CHADOC) is activated, the MHOAC Program functions are distributed to various CHADOC positions. The MHOAC may also be at the County EOC as the Medical Health Branch Director.

If you are a first responder or medical/health organization representative and need to talk to a public health representative regarding an emergency situation, such as multi-casualty incidents (MCIs), MHOAC requests, threats to the medical and public health system or medical and mutual aid requests, call 1-805-380-3411.

This is a 24/7 phone number for the EMS Duty Officer which functions as the MHOAC Program until the County Health Agency Department Operations Center (CHADOC) is activated.

For all other public health emergency calls, such as communicable disease, call 1-805-781-5500 during regular business hours.

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

The San Luis Obispo County Medical Reserve Corps (SLOMRC) is a group of trained volunteers who assist public health efforts during times of special need or disaster, such as during a major communicable disease outbreak, earthquake, flood, tsunami, or act of terrorism. The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program administers the SLO MRC.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Currently, we are only onboarding volunteers with an active California Medical license. Email [email protected] to sign up.

If you are a non-medical volunteer or do not have a current California Medical license, you can email [email protected] to be notified when we begin onboarding non-medical volunteers. There is no current timeline for when this will occur.

Thank you for your interest in the San Luis Obispo County MRC!

Potassium Iodide (KI) Pre-Distribution

This service provides information on how to obtain a personal supply of Potassium Iodide (KI). The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program manages the pre-distribution of Potassium Iodide (KI).

Potassium Iodide should only be taken when directed by the Health Officer.

Potassium iodide protects the thyroid gland against exposure to radioactive iodine in the unlikely event of a radiological release from a nuclear power plant emergency at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Our supply is NOT intended to be given out for any radiological emergency around the world.

Potassium iodide is not an "anti-radiation" pill. It is a supplemental protective measure, secondary to evacuation or sheltering in place. Evacuation and sheltering in place remain the primary protective actions during a radiological emergency. If taken in an appropriate and timely dosage, potassium iodide can block exposure of the thyroid gland to radioactive iodine. However, potassium iodide does not protect other parts of the body from exposure to other contaminants released during the emergency.

Potassium Iodide should only be taken when directed by the Health Officer.

Report a Public Health Emergency

This service provides contact information to reach Public Health in an Emergency. This information is updated and maintained by the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program.