• Training

  PHS Deployment Safety Academy for Field Experience Consortium (PHS D-SAFE)

  BACKGROUND

  The Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) is responsible for the administration and response coordination of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. CCHQ works to maintain optimum performance and readiness of over 6,700 uniformed health professionals.

  On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring the COVID-19 outbreak to be a national emergency. Since the initial insurgence of the COVID-19 virus, PHS officers have spearheaded the response by deploying across the U.S. to provide care and assistance at ports of entry, airports, military installations, local health facilities, and emergency shelters. Each deployment in response to COVID-19 places PHS officers in direct contact with the virus and the anxiety associated with this threat. Not all officers have the experience of responding to public health emergencies where the risk to their life is eminent.

  PURPOSE

  Train Public Health Service officers on subjects addressing their self-care, personal safety, and security to prepare them to deploy to regions where they will be exposed to various health threats including COVID-19, tuberculosis, polio, cholera, smallpox, and other acute respiratory syndromes. This will be provided through on-line and in-person training including virtual training using the state-of-the-art simulation resources at the dedicated high-capacity training center at Davis Global Center at University of Nebraska Medical Center.  

  OBJECTIVES

  Upon completion of the PHS D-SAFE, participants will be able to:

  • Define a safe work environment by identifying safety hazards in a deployed environment; how to apply measures to prevent and mitigate hazards; actions to take in case of exposure; and reporting requirements.
  • Identify occupational health and safety hazards in response to threats posed by COVID-19 and refugee/migration crises and developing personal injury and illness prevention plans using IAW Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations.
  • Identify hazards for doctors, nurses, and medical staff responding to COVID-19 patients in an emergency room setting while caring for patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
  • Provide safe patient treatment while reducing the risk of patient handling to PHS officers in a deployed environment by identifying potential hazards resulting from COVID-19 exposure and protecting themselves from other risks under current circumstances.
  • Identify and properly don/doff personal protective equipment and measures to protect PHS officers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protections, as well as chemical, biological, and radiological threats.
  • Identify stress factors associated to responding to COVID-19 cases. Identify the causes of stress, symptoms related to the stress, and steps to take to reduce the effect of stress related to COVID-19 response and future threats to public health.

  Schedule:	Session 18: July 12th-13th, 2023 Session 20: August 9th-10th, 2023 Session 22: September 6th-7th, 2023
  Location:	Omaha, NE
  Registration Opens:	May 1st, 2023
  Registration Deadline:	June 15th, 2023
  Course Length	2 days
  Officers per Date	20
  Ranks Eligible	All
  Selecting Official:	CCHQ Training Branch

  Application for Training

  Participation in the PHS D-SAFE is dependent on supervisor approval and nomination by the CCHQ Training Branch Chief.

  Minimum Qualifications Needed to Apply:

  • Uploaded Supervisory approval email or letter
  • Completed Asynchronous Training 
  • Have an active IBA/Government Travel Card and Concur profile by 31 May, 2023
  • Applicant must meet basic readiness requirements
  • CANNOT APPLY DURING DEPLOYMENT MONTH

  Please submit your application via attached link: PHS Deployment Safety Academy for Field Experience Consortium (PHS D-SAFE) (office.com)

  Additionally, all supporting documents and questions for this opportunity must be submitted via the PHSCOTA@hhs.gov  resource mail group using the subject line: PHS D-SAFE Application. 

  PHS D-SAFE Asynchronous Training

  The USPHS D-Safe Asynchronous training is a mandatory prerequisite to attend the in-person training.

  This two-hour training may also be taken as a stand-alone, if not attending the in-person training.

  Participants receive up to 2 clinical practice hours.

  D-SAFE Asynchronous Training Link

  Participants will be guided through materials that overview:

  • Transmission Based Precautions
  • Risk Assessment and Deployment
  • Administrative and Engineering Controls
  • Ethical Concerns and Zones of Contamination
  • Team Dynamics and Creating a Safe Work Environment
  • Limitations of PPE
  • Cleaning and Disinfection
  • Demonstrating Personal Protective Equipment (Standard Precautions)

  PHS D-SAFE Synchronous Training: Infectious Disease Series.

  This is a monthly webinar series that will provide synchronous training for up to 1,000 officers. The synchronous trainings were initially offered on the 2^nd Thursday of each month. To view the most recent recording of the training, email PHSCOTA@hhs.gov for access. 

  Future Topics include:

  Webinar 11:  September 14, 2023, at 1 pm-2 pm EST  

  Deliberate Disease Events: What PHS Officers Need to Know  

  Registration Link: https://unmc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A1GTh2GrQ9iOgXO5y58e6w 

  Last Updated: 8/18/23
• USER ASSISTANCE

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  As we position ourselves to assist with controlling the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), please note that we’re in an “all-hands on deck” status. Messaging has gone out from the Assistant Secretary for Health reminding Commissioned Corps officers of their deployment responsibilities...

Protecting, Promoting and Advancing the Health and Safety of Our Nation. Commissioned Corps Headquarters
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 300
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