Department of Health Mission
To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through
integrated state, county and community efforts.
About the Division
The Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support includes the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight (EEMO), the Bureau of Preparedness and Response (EPR), the Bureau of Public Health Pharmacy (EPHP), the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (EPHL), and the Bureau of Radiation Control (ERC). Our mission mirrors that of the Department of Health: to protect and promote the health of all residents and visitors in the state through organized state and community efforts, including cooperative agreements with counties. Each bureau/office within the Division has specific goals to achieve this mission.
The Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight (EEMO) includes the Programs of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program (BSCIP) , Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Injury Prevention Program (IPP), and Trauma. These programs create a continuum of care model with multiple linkages, statutory responsibility and mutual quality focus. Internal and external program stakeholders and partners are all part of a cohesive health care and injury prevention community.
The Bureau of Preparedness and Response (EPR) provides departmental expertise and leadership in the public health and medical component of all-hazards planning, preparation (including training and exercising), coordination and provision of funding, staff and material support for potential catastrophic events, natural or man-made, that may threaten the health of our citizens and compromise our ability to deliver needed health care services. The Bureau of Preparedness and Response works closely together with the health and medical system partners throughout the state to achieve the goals and objectives included in 2012-2014 Public Health and Healthcare Strategic Plan. The major funding for preparedness activities in the state comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response for Bioterrorism Cooperative Agreement and from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Cooperative Agreement. Both of these federal resources provide the fiscal foundation for the state's ongoing all-hazards preparedness infrastructure development.
More specifically, the Bureau is responsible for developing and annually updating the Department of Health Emergency Operations Plan and its multiple annexes, as well as, overseeing the development, evaluation and approval of emergency plans from the county health departments and all other departmental entities at or above the division level. The Bureau also provides training for central office and field staff related to all facets of the Emergency Operations Plan. Other core functions of the Bureau are: public health preparedness information dissemination; strategic planning; project management; and grants management, to include administering, submitting and processing federal emergency management grants through the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and documenting expenditures for all declared disasters. During activation of the State Emergency Response Team, the Bureau provides the department's primary support for the Emergency Support Function 8 (Health and Medical), including the agency's Emergency Coordinating Officer.
The Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (EPHL) is committed to providing diagnostic screening, monitoring, reference, emergency and research public health laboratory services to county health departments and other official agencies, physicians, hospitals and private laboratories.
In addition, the bureau is charged with protecting the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of this state from the hazards of improper performance of environmental laboratory tests through regulating environmental laboratories.
The mission and responsibility of the Bureau of Public Health Pharmacy (EPHP) is to support pharmaceutical services provided by county health departments, including pharmaceutical repackaging, dispensing, and the purchase and distribution of immunizations and other pharmaceuticals. Because of these responsibilities, Central Pharmacy is contributing to protecting the public health of our state's citizens.
The Bureau of Radiation Control (ERC) is devoted to protecting Floridians and the environment from potential radiation hazards, while making it possible to enjoy the benefits derived from the peaceful uses of radiation. Given the times we live in, itÂ’s important that knowledgeable radiation professionals be capable of responding to any incident or emergency; accidental or deliberate.