The National Special Pathogen System (NSPS)

A Message from the NSPS Executive Director: The National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) was built by, with, and for health care leaders and strategic partners. We recently unveiled a new brand that embodies connectedness, commitment, and collaboration. This new identity is a testament to our enduring commitment to preparing and protecting the nation against special pathogens. The introduction of this brand is not just a new chapter in our story, it reinforces our dedication to our mission “to develop a coordinated network of high-quality special pathogen care dedicated to protecting patients, communities, and the health care workforce in the United States.” On behalf of all the leaders of the NSPS, I want to personally express my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners in preparedness and response. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in helping us realize our shared vision for a better future. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you as we build a safer, stronger future, together. For more information about the National Special Pathogen System review our newly enhanced website: https://netec.org/nsps/ Sincerely, Shelly Schwedhelm MSN, RN, NEA-BC University of Nebraska Medical Center NSPS Executive Director

In the latest episode of the Transmission Interrupted podcast, Lauren Sauer and Dr. Jana Broadhurst discuss the current state of H5N1 wastewater testing and surveillance. Wastewater testing provides a critical, community-based surveillance tool for early detection and monitoring of infectious diseases, offering insights into viral circulation and mutations that may impact the effectiveness of existing tools to prevent, detect, and treat illnesses. Read the blog for the top 10 takeaways from the episode: https://ow.ly/WM7S50Uf7vg Podcast host Lauren Sauer is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Director of the Special Pathogens Research Network for NETEC. Her guest, Dr. Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, DTM&H, is an Associate Professor at the UNMC College of Medicine and medical director at the Nebraska Medicine Biocontainment Unit Clinical Laboratory. Listen to Transmission Interrupted on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe for more in-depth discussions on emerging pathogens and preparedness strategies. A new episode will be released on the first Wednesday of each month. #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #InfectiousDiseases #H5N1 #AvianInfluenza #BirdFlu #Wastewater Providence Cedars-Sinai Denver Health UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center Mass General Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Johns Hopkins Hospital MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital UNC Health Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

On November 16, 2024, the California Department of Health reported the first known case of clade 1 mpox in the United States. The person became infected after traveling to Eastern Africa, where there is an outbreak of clade 1 mpox. Clade I is known for more severe clinical manifestations compared to other clades, with a higher rate of transmission, increased virulence, and a greater potential for causing serious health complications. Remember to ask about recent travel and exposures in anyone presenting with a new rash! Check out the NETEC Mpox exhibit for more information: https://ow.ly/kCkC50UcbBL #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #Mpox #MPXV #IdentifyIsolateInform #NETECNugget Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta UNC Health MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Mass General Hospital Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medicine Denver Health Cedars-Sinai Providence HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Lauren Sauer, MSc, director of the Special Pathogens Research Network at NETEC from the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Global Center for Health Security , spoke to The Washington Post about the likelihood of clade 1 mpox spreading due to travel. The first case of this deadlier strain of mpox was reported in California over the weekend: https://ow.ly/lyq650UaTHl NETEC provides free expert consultation, technical support, and resources for clinicians to safely and effectively care for patients suspected to be infected with mpox, including resources on PPE, specimen collection, infection prevention and waste management, and specialized guidance for EMS professionals, researchers, and more: https://ow.ly/vPcb50UaTHm #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #Mpox #HealthCare Nebraska Medicine Denver Health Cedars-Sinai Providence UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center Mass General Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Johns Hopkins Hospital MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital UNC Health Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Lena Sun

Shelly Schwedhelm, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Executive Director of the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) and Associate Director of Emergency Management and Clinical Operations at Global Center for Health Securityand Darrell Ruby, CEM, Regional Coordinator at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital (PSHMC&CH) (Providence), and co-chair of NETEC's Emergency Management workgroup co-authored an article in the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Bulletin newsletter: https://ow.ly/K2ec50Uaqt6. Article starts on page 24. Recent health care crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the international Marburg and Sudan Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks, and H5N1 (avian influenza) demonstrate the unpredictable nature of special pathogen outbreaks and underscore the need for an agile and robust system for preparedness and response. The article in IAEM Bulletin describes how the NSPS offers a national strategy for approaching preparedness and response to special pathogens to save lives and protect communities and the health care workforce. Through strong partnerships, strategic guidance, and tiered facility support, the NSPS boosts emergency response capability nationwide.Learn how NSPS is protecting patients, communities, and health care workers, and shaping the future of pathogen preparedness: https://ow.ly/1Wa550U9wyb #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #InfectiousDiseases #EmergencyManagement #IAEM24 #IAEM #COVID19 #H5N1 #BirdFlu #Ebola #MarburgVirus Cedars-Sinai Denver Health University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medicine UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center Mass General Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Johns Hopkins Hospital MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital UNC Health Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Darrell Ruby, CEM, Regional Coordinator at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital (PSHMC&CH) (Providence), and co-chair of NETEC's Emergency Management workgroup presented at the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Annual Conference on November 18, 2024. The presentation, "Regional and National Special Pathogen Preparedness: Collaboration, Coordination and Cooperation" focused on the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) and how PSHMC&CH leveraged regional relationships and a national partner to assess and refine systems, protocols, and partnerships critical to Region 10 special pathogen preparedness and response. Learn more about the NSPS: https://ow.ly/1Wa550U9wyb Photos: Darrell presenting at IAEM; Mary Brown, Director of Emergency Management at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Darrell, and Bill Neville, Emergency Management Coordinator at Denver Health. PSHM&CH, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Denver Health and Hospital Authority are three of the 13 HHS-designated Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) nationwide with the knowledge and experience to support collaborative and coordinated management of special pathogens. Learn more about the RESPTCs: https://ow.ly/p8tS50U9wya #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #InfectiousDiseases #EmergencyManagement #IAEM24 #IAEM

Earn continuing education credit with our free online course: "National Special Pathogen System (NSPS): Path to Preparedness"! Discover how the NSPS framework empowers health care entities across the 10 Health and Human Services regions in the U.S. to effectively monitor pathogens, respond to outbreaks, and safeguard patients, health care workers, and communities. This course also delves into real-world applications, showcasing how health care facilities and public health organizations leverage partnerships and strategies to strengthen their region's preparedness. Don't miss this opportunity—enroll today and learn more about the NSPS: https://ow.ly/lGJj50U7kjA #NSPS #NETEC #SpecialPathogens #HealthCare The NSPS consists of a tiered System of Care, made up of health care facilities across the country, and is operationalized by the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) as its Coordinating Body. There are 13 Level 1 Regional Treatment Centers or RESPTCs in the NSPS System of Care that serve as resource hubs in their regions, providing highly specialized care delivery to patients suspected to be or infected with a special pathogen. They include UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center Mass General Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Johns Hopkins Hospital MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital UNC Health Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medicine Denver Health Cedars-Sinai Providence

Darrell Ruby, CEM, Regional Coordinator at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital (PSHMC&CH), and co-chair of NETEC's Emergency Management workgroup is presenting "Regional and National Special Pathogen Preparedness: Collaboration, Coordination and Cooperation" at the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) 72nd Annual Conference on Monday, November 18, at 9:45 a.m. MST. See the schedule: https://ow.ly/CEwb50U6rvb If you’re attending the IAEM Conference, join this presentation to learn about the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) and how PSHMC&CH leveraged regional relationships and a national partner to assess and refine systems, protocols, and partnerships critical to Region 10 special pathogen preparedness and response. As the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Responsedesignated Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), PSHMC&CH is among 13 RESPTCs nationwide with the knowledge and experience to support collaborative and coordinated management of special pathogens. During a multi-day exercise, PSHMC&CH partnered with the Region 7 RESPTC at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the Global Center for Health Security(GCHS) to deliver frontline special pathogen preparedness training in Alaska. The event featured a simulation of a patient suspected to be infected with a high-consequence infectious disease that had to be transported via ground and fixed-wing transport from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Alaska, and ending at PSCHC&CH in Spokane, Washington. The field exercise utilized a revolutionary portable negative pressure containment patient care system, Isolation System for Treatment and Agile Response for High-Risk Infections (ISTARI) in development at UNMC. #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #InfectiousDiseases #ISTARI #IAEM #IAEM24 Photo: LifeMed Alaska and Life Flight Network partnered with PSHMC&CH and UNMC for the exercise. Cedars-Sinai Denver Health Nebraska Medicine UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center Mass General Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Johns Hopkins Hospital MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital UNC Health Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

The Region 10 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital (PSHMC&CH) (Providence) sponsored and coordinated a NETEC EMS Biosafety training over two days at American Medical Response Seattle on September 26-27, 2024. The training was led by Dr. Alex Isakov and Wade Miles from Emory University who co-chair the NETEC EMS Workgroup, and Ben Tysor from Omaha Fire and EMS who is a NETEC EMS subject matter expert. Over two days, EMS personnel participated in classroom education and hands-on training covering donning and doffing EMS PPE, skills training related to draping/protecting the ambulance, spills clean-up, PPE breaches, health care worker down scenarios, and much more. This training is the foundation for developing regionally designated EMS teams to support patient transport in Region 10, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. In addition to supporting EMS agencies from Region 10, the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) EMS team from Vancouver, British Columbia, sent two of their EMS educators to attend the training and continue the ongoing partnership between the Region 10 RESPTC and the British Columbia Biocontainment Team. PSHMC&CH is one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs), Level 1 facilities in the National Special Pathogens System (NSPS), a tiered health care network with four Levels that have increasing capabilities to care for patients that have suspected or confirmed High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs). Level 1 facilities provide regional coordination and outreach, resources, and highly specialized care. Learn more about the System of Care: https://ow.ly/WuUB50U59lH #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #Biosafety #EMS #PPE #HealthCare Provincial Health Services Authority National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center Children's Healthcare of Atlanta UNC Health MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Mass General Hospital UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) University of Minnesota Medical Center Corewell Health University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medicine Denver Health Cedars-Sinai HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Dr. Aneesh Mehta, MD, professor of medicine and surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and co-principal investigator for National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, was interviewed by IDWeek Daily News about his participation in a panel at the October IDWeek conference titled "Preparing Your Hospital for the Next Big One." In the interview, Dr. Mehta describes the origins of NETEC and explained how COVID-19 showed that "a small system for pathogen treatment centers was not enough to take care of a large epidemic that was burdening our health care system." The National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) addresses this issue, providing a tiered system of care and training for health care workers in readiness, response and recovery. "Every health care system can engage and protect their workers at some level," Dr. Mehta said. Read the interview: https://ow.ly/wywp50U4HPb #NETEC #NSPS #SpecialPathogens #IDWeek #HealthCare #HealthCareWorkers Emory University Children's Healthcare of Atlanta UNC Health MedStar Washington Hospital Center Children's National Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital NYC HEALTH+HOSPITALS | BELLEVUE NYC Health + Hospitals Mass General Hospital Corewell Health University of Minnesota Medical Center UTMB Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medicine Denver Health Cedars-Sinai Providence HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response