Health Care & Biotech
DCHA: Hospitals not ready for serious biological attack
Washington Business Journal - by Chris Silva
While local hospitals have worked hard to update their emergency response plans in the wake of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 and the ensuing anthrax threat, they are not prepared to handle a surge of patients if a more serious biological or chemical attack occurs, according to the District of Columbia Hospital Association.
DCHA President Bob Malson testified before Congress Nov. 2 on the state of emergency preparedness in the nation's capital. He noted that the use of D.C. General Hospital as a treatment site for federal and postal workers who are at risk of contracting anthrax has relieved some of the inpatient burden for area hospitals that have seen a spike in emergency room visits.
However, the D.C. Department of Health must be prepared to increase services at D.C. General and assist area hospitals with mass casualty patients if a more deadly biological outbreak occurs, Malson told lawmakers. He added that the federal government should be ready to assist the city if it needed to bolster staff and medical services at D.C. General.
"It is not easy to reverse the trend of the last 10 years that dramatically reduced bed capacity at all District hospitals," Malson said. "It will take federal government assistance to provide the necessary resources."
Malson also said the federal government, D.C. Mayor Tony Williams and the governors of Maryland and Virginia need to coordinate with area hospitals to ensure all emergencies are handled appropriately.
... The District of Columbia Hospital Association (http://www.dcha.org) has coordinated weekday morning conference calls with hospitals in Greater Washington to keep officials abreast of developments regarding anthrax treatment.
"It's been helpful, to see what's going on," says Margaret Barron, chairwoman of the department of emergency medicine at Providence Hospital (http://www.provhosp.org).
DCHA also provides updates on its website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the confirmed numbers of anthrax cases.
... A survey conducted by the Segal Co. indicates that more than half of employers in Greater Washington expect health care costs to rise in 2002.
Segal, an HR consultant, conducted a survey of 160 area employers via e-mail.
The companies surveyed include government contractors, telecommunication firms, tech firms and health care companies, as well as other types of employers.
Among Segal's findings:
• Half of respondents say they expect their 2002 costs to increase more than 10 percent for their PPO and point-of-service plans;
• One out of four respondents reported that 2002 HMO costs would increase 15 percent;
• A majority of respondents, 80 percent, expect prescription drug costs to go up; and
• 2002 renewals presented by providers are exceeding the budgets set by employers.
Segal (http://www.segalco.com) has about 250 local clients, including corporations, non-profit organizations and unions.
... Intradigm, a startup life sciences company based in Rockville, has expanded its management team.
David Stricker was hired as vice president of operations and finance, and Casimir Eitner as vice president of business development.
Stricker most recently was vice president of finance and operations at Aptus Genomics, a bioscience company based in Gaithersburg. Stricker helped Aptus close its second round of funding of $6.2 million in May.
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