Simulation Education Services (SES) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have developed a strategic partnership to allow UT-Houston content expertise in health sciences to be integrated with SES' innovative web-based disaster exercise technology entitled "DeskTop" drills. This program is entitled "DeskTop Drills" and targets hospitals, public health, health care responders and other vital response sectors in areas having health related responsibilities, such as law enforcement, EMS, fire services, and pandemic flu preparedness. In this unique training and education partnership, a collaborative team with UT-Houston experts and SES personnel will design and facilitate these sessions using SES' distance education technologies to allow individuals or groups to participate in an exercise from any place that has access to internet and telephone capabilities. Learning scenarios highlighting HRSA and CDC performance measures and DHS Target Capabilities are used as the basis for DeskTop Drills. A typical exercise takes place in about two hours without disruption of patient care activities and satisfies the Joint Commission community involvement drill requirements for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities. DeskTop sessions can also be used to target issues such as school closings, jail evacuation, special needs populations and other preparedness areas where the management of health and public's safety intersect. The distance-based technologies permit better participation by leadership personnel from throughout the region and from the various response sectors, as the participants are not required to leave their office environment to participate in the DeskTop drill. These training and exercise programs provide cutting edge disaster expertise to be disseminated throughout a service region or a state. A formal evaluation process is conducted and reported by the Saint Louis University's evaluation unit and can be tailored to the needs of the audience is integral to this program of instruction. Scott Lillibridge, M.D., at the UT School of Public Health states that "the linkage of UT-Houston's expertise in health sciences with SES' technology issues is a timely and efficient method to approach the exercise and evaluation requirements of state and regional preparedness. The implementation cycle is only two to three weeks and permits multiple exercises and subsequent evaluations throughout the year." Please contact Michael Garvin at mgarvin@simulationed.com or call (515) 321-7000 for more information or to request to listen to a live Desktop drill in May.
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