The National
Disaster Medical System (NDMS), through
the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS),
fosters the development of volunteer
teams, called Disaster Medical Assistance
Teams (DMATs). A DMAT is a group of
professional and paraprofessional medical
personnel (supported by a cadre of
logistical and administrative staff)
designed to provide emergency medical
care during a disaster or other event.
Roles and
Responsibilities of the Disaster Medical
Assistance Team Sponsoring Organization
Each
Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT)
has a sponsoring organization that
organizes the team, recruits team
members, arranges training, and
coordinates the dispatch of the team. A
sponsor can be any organization that is
willing and able to support the
development of a DMAT. Examples of
sponsors include hospitals or major
medical centers; public health and safety
agencies; and non-profit, public, and
private organizations. DMATs may be
jointly sponsored by more than one
organization. The sponsor signs a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the U.S. Public Health Service. This
written agreement states:
Sponsors
agree to:
1.
Organize and maintain a disaster medical
response team,
2. Recruit and select qualified
volunteers,
3. Train and exercise the team, including
a basic orientation to the NDMS and the
duties and responsibilities of other
participants in the disaster relief
operation. Instruction on the principles
of medical disaster management should be
given to Team Leaders, Administrative
Officers, and Medical and Nursing
Supervisors,
4. Obtain and maintain disaster medical
equipment from donor sources,
5. Provide minor medical supplies for
immediate response to local disaster,
6. Mobilize the team for response to
local incidents or NDMS activated Federal
disaster situations.
The
U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) is
responsible for:
1.
Providing guidance on the organization
and composition of the DMATs,
2. Providing training materials and
practical guidance in disaster medical
skills,
3. Providing personnel to assist in the
administration and management of the
team,
4. Assisting in the location and
acquisition of supplies and equipment
from Federal and local donor sources for
use in training exercises and during a
disaster situation.
Once
a team has been activated for response
during an emergency, the PHS is
responsible for:
1.
Appointing team members to an appropriate
Federal status. Once appointed as a
temporary Federal employee, issues
related to interstate deployment
regarding licensure or certification are
eliminated, and legal medical liability
coverage is afforded to team members,
2. Providing transportation, food,
supplies, shelter, and logistic support
to the DMAT,
3. Compensating DMAT members for Federal
service and expenses incurred during the
performance of their assigned tasks,
4. Returning the team members to the
sponsor following the completion of the
emergency incident.
Back to Top
