Shreveport, La. – LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) has been selected as the newest site of the DoD National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Pilot Program. A Congressionally authorized program led by the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH) in an effort to enhance interoperability and expand capability and capacity within the National Disaster Medical System. LSUHS is one of only eight strategically located pilot sites in the United States and one of the two sites in the southern U.S.

The selection of LSUHS was based on numerous factors including strategic location, proximity to Barksdale Air Force Base and serving as a regional academic medical center. Also contributing to the LSU Health Shreveport’s selection as a Pilot site is the institution’s robust research, technology and educational capabilities, along with expert faculty and staff, established partnerships throughout the community and state, and strong motivation and community support.

The NDMS Pilot Program will be conducted over five years and will address the requirements of a large-scale combat operation (LSCO) or catastrophic event. To achieve this goal, LSU Health Shreveport will be focused on establishing new partnerships while strengthening existing partnerships with public and private organizations to include healthcare providers, all of which will be in coordination with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health which is the Office of Primary Responsibility for the program.

The inaugural planning meeting occurred April 14-16 with community stakeholders and leadership of the Uniformed Services University, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Veterans Health Administration Office of Emergency Management.

 “LSU Health Shreveport is honored to have been selected as a site for the NDMS Pilot Program. We take this privilege and responsibility seriously and will work tirelessly to prepare and execute a disaster response which delivers an optimal outcome for those injured in a war or natural disaster,” John Vanchiere, MD, PHD.

LSU Health Shreveport is also a member of the National Center’s Joint Disaster Medicine and Public Health Ecosystem, a national resource comprised of leading organizations across the U.S. that have demonstrated excellence in disaster medicine and public health. LSUHS was one of the first Ecosystem partners and the only partner in Louisiana.

More information about the NCDMPH and the NDMS Pilot Program can be found at ncdmph.usuhs.edu/ndms-pilot.