Bonner General gets bioterror and disaster preparedness money

SANDPOINT — Bonner General Hospital is receiving more than $50,000 to better prepare for bioterror attacks and other disasters.

The money is part of a $335,000 federal Health and Human Services grant channeled through the state to the Panhandle Health District for distribution to its regional healthcare partners.

"Hospitals and other healthcare partners play a critical role in identifying and responding to a terrorist attack, an infectious disease outbreak and natural disasters," PHD Director Jeanne Bock said.

"These funds will be used to improve emergency care in any health crisis, whether the source is a bioterror attack or other infectious disease outbreaks like SARS or West Nile Virus, or any natural disaster like a flood."

Bonner General will use $30,189 of the grant to improve its lab and $20,311 to improve its isolation capabilities, said Mark Anderson, emergency healthcare preparedness liaison for the health district.

Bonner General officials could not be reached for comment on the specifics of the improvements.

The health district applied for the grant after identifying needs at various hospitals and other points of entry into the health care system, explained Anderson.

Regionally, the funds will also be used to increase coordination on disease reporting among hospitals and local and state health departments, enhance coordination between public health laboratories and hospital-based laboratories, and harmonize the communications capabilities of these entities.

The funds also will be used to buy communications equipment and personal protective gear.

This is the second year that the federal government has provided funding to increase hospital preparedness. Idaho received nearly $3 million for healthcare preparedness throughout the state during the last year.