The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Friday deployed a 14-member National Disaster Medical System team to the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital to help support staff caring for a surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses, such as flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

“The arrival of the NDMS team couldn’t come at a better time,” said Anna Duran, M.D, associate chief medical officer of the UNM Children’s Hospital. “Our staff have been working very hard to provide the highest level of care to the sickest children in our state. But our staff are tired, many of them missed the holidays with their families, and they desperately need this help.”

On Dec. 2, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said states and health care providers may use regulatory flexibilities available during the COVID-19 public health emergency as well as HHS resources such as NDMS teams to help respond to non-COVID-19 illnesses straining hospital and health care systems.

Related News Articles

Headline
“A recent article in the Wall Street Journal wants you to believe that many of our nation’s emergency departments are incapable of caring for children,” writes…
Blog
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal wants you to believe that many of our nation’s emergency departments are incapable of caring for children. As a…
Headline
The director and nurse manager for pediatric emergency mental health services at UMass Memorial Health in Massachusetts share how the health system is helping…
Headline
The AHA Sept. 25 launched its 2023-24 United Against the Flu campaign to help hospitals and health systems encourage their communities to get vaccinated for…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sept. 22 recommended the first maternal vaccine to protect newborns from severe illness from respiratory…
Headline
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today voted 14-7 to advance as amended to the full Senate the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health…