Programs/ServicesNYS Fair Alternate Care Facility
A recent major focus of the CEP has been the development of alternative site emergency services facility. In the occurrence of a major disaster, it is likely that existing health care facilities will be easily overwhelmed.
We have developed an alternative-care, surge-capacity facility to reduce the impact of disaster. Through a generous construction grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, we have constructed a 16 bed emergency services facility (expandable to 32 beds if required) on the grounds of the New York State Fair. Replacing the existing infirmary, located behind the fair's horticultural building, this facility is designed to serve several purposes.
First, it will be used to provide medical care during the State Fair (these services provided by the Department of Emergency Medicine of University Hospital) and for other major activities held on the fair grounds during the year. Second, it will serve as a training facility for the Medical Reserve Corps, state, county and local groups, other emergency preparedness organizations and for planned joint civilian and National Guard exercises. Third, it will serve as a surge capacity facility in the event of an actual disaster or other emergency, thus reducing the burden on local hospitals and other health care facilities.
The State Fair Emergency Services Facility is a unique endeavor in the country. Other states have begun to look to our facility for assistance and guidance in developing similar structures. Thus, we have been able to be a national leader in this effort.
CNY Medical Reserve Corps
The MRC Program was formed in 2002, in cooperation with the White House's USA Freedom Corps. As described by the Freedom Corps, the MRC works in pre-identifying, training and organizing medical and public health professionals to strengthen their communities through volunteerism. 
MRC volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year by supporting local public health initiatives, such as immunization and prevention activities. When an emergency community need occurs, MRC volunteers can work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs.
With the MRC in place, a formerly untapped community resource-medical and public health volunteers-is functioning and available for the community to access in emergencies and for ongoing efforts in public health.
The office of Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, Surgeon General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has provided SUNY Upstate with funds to establish and administer the MRC for the Central New York region including Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties.
In 2005, Eighteen thousand licensed health care professionals in these counties, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacist, and veterinarians were surveyed by the CEP to determine their interest in volunteering for the CNYMRC.
Of those surveyed, more than 1,500 have registered.
Since the start of the CNYMRC, our volunteers have participated in NIMS Training, Hurricane Relief Aid, and Disaster Preparedness Exercises.
Research
- Controlled Substances
- Extraction Study
- EMS Disaster Training Needs Assessment
- Carnival Workers
- WelchAllyn Cooperative Activities
Emergency Preparedness Internship
The center offers internship programs to college students who are interested in learning more about the field of emergency preparedness. These one semester internships focus around a relevant project for each intern. Recent projects undertaken include a study of the provision of health care to non-farm migrant workers and issues surrounding health care in non-traditional settings. Other projects are related to the development of effective National Guard and civilian interface during response to mass casualty events.Evidence Based Medicine
The center is contributing to the implementation of evidence based medicine techniques and strategies in exploration and understanding of preparedness and emergency response to mass casualty.
Community Education
Academic Health Center Consortium for Mass Casualty Management
The CEP participates with Upstate Medical University and the academic medical centers in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo in the Academic Health Center Consortium for Mass Casualty Management. This consortium works to demonstrate the benefits of such a cooperative relationship in addressing service needs of upstate New York.
The current work of this group is focused in two areas: mass causality burn management and burn surge response, and in understanding the science of surge needs and response.
