New diseases, trauma-related injuries due to natural or human-caused events, medical professionals, hospital staff, especially emergency room staff, are expected to be the first to come into contact with patients and are critical in the detection of an outbreak.  The PHEPR program is continuously collaborating with our medical professionals to provide resources and training to enhance the ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. 

The Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AZCHER) is a healthcare coalition serving the state of Arizona.  Yuma County is part of the Western Region, which includes Yuma County, La Paz County, and Mohave County.  The coalition is open to healthcare professionals and supporting agencies. It is an important source of creating a resilient healthcare system through collaboration, training, and planning for events that could overwhelm the healthcare system.

Yuma County also has a local healthcare coalition group that focuses on collaboration, situational awareness, planning, and training for events that could impact medical facilities and services in Yuma County.  If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Lynn Harlow-Smith at (928) 317-4626 or lynn.harlow-smith@yumacountyaz.gov to be added to our group list.  Meetings take place quarterly and can be attended virtually.

Additional Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•  ASPR TRACIE- Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway