Emergency Management Committee
Simon Sarkisian, DO, MS, FAAEM
Chair
The Emergency Management Committee at Cooper University Health Care is a multidisciplinary committee that meets regularly with key hospital stakeholders to:
- Develop all-hazard emergency plans.
- Perform a hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA).
- Coordinate with other community agencies such as fire, police, EMS, public health, public works, the emergency management agency, hazardous materials unit, and ambulance dispatch center to encourage interoperability.
- Coordinate with the medical staff and each department of the facility. And,
- Assist in training stakeholders in the plans it develops.
Sub-committees include:
- High Consequence Infectious Diseases
- Military-Civilian Operations
- Decontamination Operations
Medical Coordination Center
Located at: Cooper University Hospital
One Cooper Plaza, Dorrance Building, 4th Floor
Camden, NJ 08103
The Medical Coordination Center (MCC) of Cooper University Health Care is a centralized command and control facility responsible for managing and coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts. It serves as the primary location where government officials, emergency management personnel, and other stakeholders come together to coordinate and direct resources, personnel, and information during an emergency or crisis situation.
Operational Medicine
Operational medicine refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on providing medical support and care in operational or tactical settings. It primarily deals with the medical needs and challenges faced by military personnel deployed in combat or other operational environments. Operational medicine encompasses various aspects, such as preventative medicine, trauma care, emergency medical services, medical evacuation, and deployment health support. The Center teaches Austere Ultrasound to Special Operations Combat Medics who rotate regularly at Cooper University Health Care.
"Operation Allies Welcome" Initiative
Cooper University Health Care provided medical support for Afghan refugees as part of Operation Allies Welcome, an initiative of the Biden administration to coordinate efforts across the federal government to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the U.S.
Within 72 hours, Cooper organized, deployed, set up, and staffed a fully operational organic expeditionary medical support facility and provided continuous medical support, including urgent care capability. The facility was located at the site of the Holt Logistics Corporation at the Pier 5 Broadway Marine Terminal in Camden, New Jersey.
Austere Medicine
Austere medicine refers to the medical practices and procedures that are performed in conditions or situations where resources are limited, such as during emergencies, conflicts, or in remote areas with limited access to medical facilities. It involves providing basic and essential healthcare services using minimal equipment, supplies, and medications. Austere medicine often requires healthcare providers to be resourceful, creative, and adaptable in their approach to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. The Center teaches and Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) elective at Cooper Medical School at Rowan University