Smallpox Preparedness Seminar to be Held for Southeast Michigan Healthcare Workers April 8-9, 2003

DETROIT, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Region 2 South and Region 2 North Medical Bio-Defense Networks are cosponsoring a seminar, "The Healthcare Worker's Role in Smallpox Preparedness," from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at the John D. Dingell Veterans Administration Medical Center, 4646 John R., Detroit, and from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in the John Lewis Community Center, South Campus, Macomb Community College, 14500 E. 12 Mile, Warren.

Close to 600 healthcare workers are registered to attend the seminars, which will feature three nationally known speakers addressing smallpox preparedness for hospitals and healthcare workers:

* Jerry L. Mothershead, MD, FACEP, Commander (ret.) United States Navy Medical Corp

* Judith F. English, RN, MSN, CIC, Head Infection Control Branch, Infectious Diseases Service of the National Naval Medical Center

* Rosemary K. Sokas, MD, MOH, Liaison from the American College of Occupational Medicine to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Implementation

The seminar will provide updated information on all aspects of the nation's smallpox vaccination program, including clinical features, diagnosis, patient education, control procedures, adverse event management and vaccination administration and follow-up visits.

Other sponsors include Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Detroit Medical Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center, Emergency Physicians Medical Group PC, 3M and the Southeast Michigan Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bioterrorism Preparedness Consortium.

Source: Detroit Medical Center