By Healthcare Facilities Today

Hospitals are forming coalitions to respond collaboratively to disasters, partly because federal funding is linked to joint efforts to deliver effective health care during an emergency.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $332 million in emergency preparedness grants to hospitals. The funding aims to aid hospitals in states and U.S. territories, along with the three largest U.S. cities — New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — plus Washington, D.C. The funding will go to 52 awardees in 50 states.

The funding covers eight foundational areas, one of which involves coalitions.

In a Q&A with DOTmed Daily News, Dr. David Marcozzi, director of the national healthcare preparedness programs at HHS, said the focus on building coalitions is a major and welcome change in the competitive health care market. “An entire health community has to respond to an event,” he said. There is evidence that the approach has proven successful, Marcozzi reported.

In light of recent high profile disasters, ranging from Hurricane Sandy to the bombings at the Boston Marathon, Marcozzi said hospitals should focus on foundational processes, which apply to all types of disasters.

Metrics will become increasingly important, Marcozzi said. He pointed out that measures have been created to address the effectiveness of business continuity efforts by hospital coalitions.

Asked about federal funding, Marcozzi said that it will continue to fluctuate. The real focus is on providing guidance to hospitals — the eight foundational strategies that hospitals should use as they develop emergency preparedness plans.

Marcozzi also held the positions of director public health policy for the White House Homeland Security Council and as director of all-hazards medical preparedness policy for the National Security staff.

Read the Q&A.