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Organization Spotlight - April 2006

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is a federally coordinated system that augments the nation’s emergency medical response capability. The NDMS is a section within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The four federal partners in NDMS are the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency, Response Division, and Operations Branch.

NDMS supplements state and local emergency medical response during a disaster or major emergency. NDMS also provides backup medical support to the military and VA medical care systems during an overseas conventional conflict. NDMS is managed by ESF #8 (DHHS) during times when the National Response Plan is invoked. The major components of NDMS are medical response, patient evacuation, and definitive medical care. NDMS improves National medical response capability and increases the ability of participating states and localities to respond to disasters in their own jurisdictions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—through NDMS—promotes the medical response component through Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs). A DMAT consists of a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel, supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff, designed to provide medical care during a disaster or other event. Each DMAT team has a sponsoring organization, such as a major medical center, public health or safety agency, non-profit, public or private organization that signs a Memorandum of Agreement with DHS. The DMAT sponsor organizes the team and recruits members, arranges training, and coordinates the dispatch of the team. DMAT teams are mainly a rapid response community resource designed to meet local, regional, and state needs. However, when used as a national resource, members can become federalized.

During the 2005 Hurricane Response, MRC volunteers provided support through NDMS with MRC volunteers being deployed to the Gulf Coast as part of a DMAT. The training and definitive care provided by DMATs can enhance an MRC units’ ability to respond in their local community. For additional information on NDMS and DMATs, please visit the National Disaster Medical System Web site.

Last Updated on 1/9/2007