DSHS Disaster, Shelter, and Transport Guidance
DSHS has compiled the following guidance for Texas mass care entities, emergency management officials, shelter managers, and shelter staff during the COVID-19 pandemic:
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Evacuation Transport Guidance
Interim Guidance for Hurricane Evacuation Transport to General Population Shelters during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Read the Transport Guidance .PDF HERE.
Disaster Shelter Guidance
Interim Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Read the Shelter Guidance .PDF HERE.
"Stop the Bleed" is a nationwide campaign to empower individuals to act quickly and save lives.
No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss.
Bystanders can take simple steps to keep the injured person alive until appropriate medical care is available. There are some very simple actions anyone can take to help save a life.
What is a RAC?
Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) are the administrative bodies responsible for trauma system oversight within the bounds of a given Trauma Service Area in Texas. Each of the 22 RACs is tasked with developing, implementing, and monitoring a regional emergency medical service trauma system plan.
Read More...Purpose of a Regional Advisory Council
The purpose of a Regional Advisory Council (RAC) is to develop, implement and monitor a regional emergency medical services (EMS) trauma system plan to facilitate trauma system networking within its Trauma Service Area (TSA) or group of TSAs. RAC membership may include hospitals, physicians, nurses, EMS providers, rehabilitation facilities, dispatchers, as well as other community groups.
Omnibus Rural Health Care Rescue Act
The Omnibus Rural Health Care Rescue Act, passed in 1989, directed the Bureau of Emergency Management of the Texas Department of Health to develop and implement statewide emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma care system, designate trauma facilities, and develop a trauma registry to monitor the system and provide statewide cost and epidemiological statistics.
Implementation of the Trauma System
The trauma system was initially adopted by the Texas Board of Health in accordance with Senate Bill 530, Health & Safety Code, Chapter 773 (Emergency Medical Services), whereby the state was divided into twenty-two regions called Trauma Service Areas (Texas Administrative Code § Rule 157.122), provided for the formation of a Regional Advisory Council (Texas Administrative Code § Rule 157.123).
Functions of a RAC
The functions of Regional Advisory Councils (RAC) were to develop and implement a regional EMS/trauma system plan, provide public information and education about prevention of trauma and a trauma system, provide a forum for EMS providers and hospitals to address trauma service area issues, network with other regional advisory councils, and document and report trauma system data that meets trauma service criterion.
Please Read Before Proceeding
If you are new to the assistance request process, the following instructions will assist you with obtaining PPE, Staffing, and Equipment Requests:
- Download the instructional .PDF "How-To" document HERE.
- For new users, begin by creating a new User ID HERE.
- Before submitting any assistance requests, you must have your forms completed, and be able to upload them to the assistance website.
- The forms are in .PDF format, and may be printed, or filled out electronically. Download to your computer for later use.
- A new request form must be submitted with each request.
- Requests must be picked up within 7 days, or the request will be returned to stock.
- A new request may only be submitted every 4 days after pick up of previous request.
PPE REQUESTS
For all PPE requests through the STAR (State of Texas Assistance Request) Program, please follow the instructions below:
(Be sure you have downloaded and saved a copy of the PPE request form to your computer before proceeding, and that you have created your unique user ID as instructed under the "How To" section above)
- Download the PPE request form HERE.
- Complete your PPE request form.
- Upload your completed PPE request form HERE.
- Once your request has been received and approved, the warehouse personnel will fill the order and notify you within 48 hours. Once your PPE request has been filled, you have 7 days to pick up your request, or the items will be returned to stock, and you will have to submit a new request. New PPE requests can be submitted 4 days after you have received your previous request. You may submit a request earlier than 4 days if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Details will be provided by warehouse personnel upon arrival.
STAFFING REQUESTS
For all Staffing requests through the STAR (State of Texas Assistance Request) Program, please follow the instructions below:
(Be sure you have downloaded and saved a copy of the STAFFING REQUEST FORM to your computer before proceeding, and that you have created your unique user ID as instructed under the "How To" section above)
VENTILATOR & O2 CONCENTRATOR REQUESTS
For all Ventilator & O2 Concentrator Equipment requests through the STAR (State of Texas Assistance Request) Program, please follow the instructions below:
(Be sure you have downloaded and saved a copy of the VENT/O2 and PROPERTY AGREEMENT forms to your computer before proceeding, and that you have created your unique user ID as instructed under the "How To" section above)
NOTICE - REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM DSHS
Hospitals and healthcare professionals should follow their normal process of trying to locate emergency medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other healthcare resources with their regular vendors and exhaust all possible options. These options may include contacting any sister facilities for coordination, reaching out to local partners or stakeholders, looking at any possible reallocations within the Public Health Region, Healthcare Coalition, Regional Advisory Council regions, or other medical supply agencies, given established priority groups. If hospitals and healthcare professionals cannot obtain any PPE from their vendor(s) and have exhausted all alternative options, they should send their official requests to their local office of emergency management via the STAR process. Please ensure you provide all relevant details for your request, to include type of item, POC information, and delivery address.
Upcoming Events & Meetings
Upcoming events & meetings section.
Christmas Luncheon - RAC-G Board and Staff
December 9, 2020 at 11:30am @ Willowbrook Country Club.
Lunch & festivities will commence after a brief board meeting.
TETAF Hospital Data Management Course
Texas EMS, Trauma & Acute Care Foundation is pleased to announce its Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) will be offered virtually November 2-3, 2020.
Texas Pediatric Brain Health
The Summit is part of the Texas Pediatric Brain Health Initiative focused on the prenatal to three-year-old developmental window. November 5-6, 2020.
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
TECC is intended for first responders who are responsible for assessing and treating patients with injuries from blasts, violence, and other trauma. Nov 28-29, 2020.
2021 TCHMB Virtual Summit
The 2021 Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB) Summit has been scheduled for February 11-12, 2021. This coming year, we’re going virtual.
MEMBERSHIP | DONATE | VOLUNTEER
Become a Member
Download the membership application and fee schedule HERE.
Donate through PayPal
Volunteer
RAC-G continues to build a roster of volunteers from our retired medical community. Should the need arise, we want to be ready. We thank you in advance for your willingness to serve.
Fill out the volunteer form HERE.
Administrative Team
Meet our team behind the scenes
Sheryl Coffey
President/CEOsheryl@rac-g.org
Loretta Khun
Contract Compliance Administratorloretta@rac-g.org
Beth Powell
Hospital Preparedness Program Managerbeth@rac-g.org
Lauren Ethredge
Healthcare Coalition Coordinator Region - Glauren@rac-g.org
Hannah Cooper
Healthcare Coalition Coordinator Region - Ghannah@rac-g.org
Brandon Moore
Healthcare Coalition Coordinator Region - Fbrandon@rac-g.org
Eric Bailey
EMTF-4 Coordinatoreric@rac-g.org
Aaron Wells
Data Information Systems Administratoraaron@rac-g.org
COVID Response Support Personnel
Pandemic Response Team
Kelly Weisinger
Hospital Staffing Coordinator
Steve Surface
PPE Distribution Team Leader
Russ Langas
Warehouse PPE Supply & SupportContact
Contact us through one of the options below.
Our Address
100 E. Ferguson St. Suite 708, Tyler, TX. 75701
Email Us
General: info@rac-g.org
Website: aaron@rac-g.org
Call Us
Office 903.593.4722
Fax 903.593.5092