1139: How North Dakota Built a Statewide Medical Cache for Emergencies and Everyday Needs

North Dakota’s statewide preparedness system grew out of lessons learned from disasters, public health emergencies, and the realities of serving rural and frontier communities. Tim Wiedrich, director of health response and licensure for the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, tells us about how the state developed a unified public-private partnership that supports hospitals, public health agencies, EMS providers, and long-term care facilities across North Dakota.  Tim explains how the events of September 11 and the anthrax attacks reshaped preparedness planning, leading to the creation of a centralized statewide medical cache stocked with critical medical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, generators, and infrastructure support resources. Bridging Systems: Health Care and Public Health Collaborate on Emergency Preparedness in North Dakota | ASTHOPrioritizing Emerging Infectious Disease Cases and Contacts for Follow-Up | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHO