This hazardous materials operations-level certification program, developed by Boston MMRS and the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals addresses issues of particular import to hospital-based providers.

This enhanced 24-hour curriculum includes information on biological, chemical, and radiological weapons and terrorism.  There is an extensive focus on patient-centered decontamination procedures.  A great deal of the coursework is practical in nature, including field exercises in working in and with personal protective equipment and decontamination equipment.  This course has been piloted, refined, and presented successfully and continues to improve each time it is offered.

Instructors
The DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness has assembled an experienced team of instructors, including: Kathryn Brinsfield, MD, FACEP, an attending physician at Boston Medical Center, Medical Director of Boston MMRS, Associate Medical Director and Director of Research, Training, and Quality Improvement at Boston EMS, and an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Boston University;  Sophia Dyer, MD, FACEP, a toxicologist, Hazardous Materials Technician, attending physician at Boston Medical Center, Assistant Medical Director of Boston EMS, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University; Captain Robert Y. Haley, EMT, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Boston EMS Special Operations Supervisor; John F. Bilotas, NREMT-P, Hazardous Materials Technician; and Kevin T. Spellman, EMT, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Boston EMS Special Operations staff member.

Registration
If you are interested in registering for a course at the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness, please contact Stacey Kokaram at kokaram@bostonems.org. You may also reach Stacey by calling (617) 343-1377.

Prerequisites
Applicants must be prepared to participate in the complete 3-day course.  Participants will be required to take-part in the practical portions of the course, including donning and functioning in personal protective equipment such as chemical protective suits and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Who Can Register?
This course is primarily open to staff of Boston's acute care hospitals.  Demand is expected to exceed available seats.  If demand is unexpectedly low, the course will be opened to other metropolitan Boston hospital staff.

Who Should Register?
Hospitals should make this determination internally.  The DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness is committed to providing preparedness and response assets with training to augment overall response capacity.  Understanding that, we feel it is imperative that training be provided to staff deemed necessary and appropriate by each facility; some facilities may plan to have clinicians conduct decontamination while others may plan to have environmental staff conduct decontamination.  Again, these determinations must be made internally and may vary by facility.

What is the cost?
Courses held at the DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness are free of charge.

To register please contact Stacey Kokaram at kokaram@bostonems.org.