AAMC Testifies on Development
of WMD Medical Education Programs
April 11, 2003 - AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D.,
April 10 testified
before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations about the progress medical schools and
teaching hospitals are making to integrate information on
responses to biological, chemical and radiological events
into medical education. The hearing also featured witnesses
from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA), the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). The purpose of the hearing, according
to Subcommittee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), was to ensure
the nation's future health care providers have access to the
information they need to accurately identify, diagnose and
treat victims of biological, chemical and radiological attacks,
and that efforts to do so were not being needlessly duplicated
by the federal government or other interested parties.
The hearing focused primarily on implementation of Public
Law 107-287, the Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency
Preparedness Act of 2002. Representing the VA, Under Secretary
for Health Robert Roswell, M.D., noted that initial implementation
was slowed by the uncertainty surrounding final FY 2003 funding
levels, but that efforts are currently ongoing to implement
the education and training programs mandated in the law. Dr.
Roswell also noted the numerous efforts VA has been pursuing
to educate its employees and other health care providers including
publication of pocket cards providing general guidance on
biological, chemical and radiological agents; clinical practice
guidelines; and satellite broadcasts for the physicians in
the field. Testimony from Jerome Hauer, M.H.S, Acting Assistant
Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness at HHS,
and Eric Tolbert, Director, Response Division, Emergency Preparedness
and Response Directorate at DHS, focused primarily on coordination
between the various federal agencies in the National Disaster
Management System (NDMS).
Dr. Cohen's statement addressed the recent progress medical
schools and teaching hospitals have made in addressing weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) in the curriculum. In addition to
noting the recent completion of an expert panel on bioterrorism
education for medical students, the testimony mentions several
efforts being made by residency program directors to incorporate
additional material into graduate medical education, and the
AAMC's coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
Information:
Jonathan Fishburn, Director, Research, Education and Veterans' Legislative Affairs
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
jfishburn@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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