WA DOH’s Plan For Washington’s 2024 ASPR Funding Application
The Washington State Department of Health would like to share an important decision shaping the future of the Department of Health’s Healthcare Readiness and Response strategy across Washington state, including how DOH proposes to fulfill federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) funded work in Washington state. As you may know, the HPP cooperative agreement provides resources and support for statewide healthcare emergency readiness and response.
After more than a year of discussion, data collection, analysis, outreach, and engagement with numerous stakeholders around the state, the Washington Department of Health has determined that the Northwest Healthcare Response Network (NWHRN) should expand its role in leading the ASPR HPP grant work to support healthcare readiness and response in Central and Eastern Washington. Based on the input the DOH has received, lessons learned, and a review of programmatic needs, they feel confident this approach is the right strategic direction to support healthcare and its partners throughout Washington.
The NWHRN has already performed some of this statewide role on an interim basis, starting in March of 2023 when the Spokane Regional Health District discontinued its administration of the REDi Healthcare Coalition. In this interim time, the NWHRN consistently demonstrated that it has the experience, knowledge, vision, and commitment to service that is necessary to lead and improve Washington’s healthcare emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
The WA Department of Health recognizes that change can be difficult and appreciates the support that many have shown for the approach they’ve used this far. This change in Washington’s approach to the statewide healthcare preparedness is part of a larger discussion taking place in the state, spurred by the experiences and lessons learned during the COVID-19 epidemic and other real world healthcare responses. Their ultimate goal is to make the healthcare and public health ecosystem of WA state, as a whole, more resilient, equitable, nimble, and responsive in emergencies.
The next step is to submit Washington’s application for the ASPR HPP Cooperative Agreement. In this application, the DOH will propose that the NWHRN expand its current role and lead work additional to support to fulfill the healthcare readiness and response program in Central and Eastern Washington, including fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of the healthcare coalition. At this time, the DOH envisions the Southwest Washington Healthcare Alliance continuing to provide a connection with the Portland Metropolitan Area and the preparedness work in Washington state.
It is expected that ASPR will support this approach. The DOH will share more details once they learn more from their funders. If approved, they intend to use the next year to formally transition to this new model. That transition will include more engagement and joint planning, to make this transition as smooth as possible. These will be the first steps in transforming how they prepare healthcare systems in the state.
If you have questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out to Nathan Weed ([email protected]) or Tyler Nowlan ([email protected]).
