Preparedness

 

Healthcare Coalition

  • The Capital of Texas Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC) serves as the lead agency for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) in Central Texas. HPP is dedicated to enhancing healthcare system readiness for emergencies. It strengthens regional healthcare coalitions (HCCs) to improve patient outcomes, reduce dependence on state and federal resources, and ensure rapid recovery in times of crisis. Through collaboration, training, and coordinated planning and exercises. CATRAC works with healthcare entities, public health agencies, emergency management, and EMS to build a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to disasters, pandemics, and mass casualty incidents (MCI).
  • The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) is a federally funded initiative managed by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Its primary mission is to ensure that healthcare systems are well-equipped to handle large-scale emergencies or incidents. HPP fosters multi-agency coordination through Health Care Coalitions (HCCs), bringing together diverse organizations to support community preparedness.
  • HPP enhances emergency preparedness by:
  • Strengthening regional healthcare coalitions (HCCs)
  • Enhancing situational awareness and communication to active coalition members
  • Improving surge capacity to handle medical crises
  • Ensuring the continuity of essential healthcare services
  • Supporting resilience and recovery efforts Shape
 

Regional Collaboration & Coordination

  • CATRAC administers the HPP across 29 counties in Central Texas, supporting a network of 70 hospitals, 124 EMS agencies, and over 50 emergency management organizations. Our coalition fosters strong partnerships across competing healthcare entities to streamline emergency response efforts. Through collaboration, training, and coordinated planning and exercises. CATRAC works with healthcare entities, public health agencies, emergency management, and EMS to build a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to disasters, pandemics, and mass casualty incidents (MCI).
  • We consist of four neighboring RACs to execute the HPP:
  • Capital Area of Texas RAC (CATRAC/TSA-O)
  • Heart of Texas RAC (HOTRAC/TSA-M)
  • Brazos Valley RAC (BVRAC/TSA-N)
  • Central Texas RAC (CENTEX/TSA-L)
  • The backbone of HPP is the Health Care Coalition (HCC), which includes:
  • Hospitals (acute care, specialty centers, long-term care, freestanding ERs, rehab hospitals, dialysis centers)
  • Pre-Hospital Services (EMS, air medical transport, AMBUS)
  • Public Health Agencies (local and regional health departments)
  • Emergency Management (county and municipal agencies)
  • By working together, these groups identify risks, address resource gaps, and establish coordinated disaster response strategies.

Preparedness and Response Initiatives

Strategic Planning & Risk Assessments

CATRAC develops and maintains the Regional Preparedness Strategy and Response Plan, which includes: 

  • Hazard Vulnerability Assessments (HVA) – Identifying regional risks and mitigation strategies 
  • Supply Chain Integrity Assessments – Ensuring medical supply availability 
  • Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan (MYTEP) – Strengthening response capabilities 

Training & Exercises

Your participation strengthens our healthcare system’s resilience! Here’s how you can support HPP efforts: 

  • Attend bi-monthly HCC meetings 
  • Participate in training, exercises, and After-Action Reviews (AARs) 
  • Share feedback, concerns, and innovative ideas 
  • Engage with community preparedness initiatives 
  • Promote collaboration among healthcare and emergency response agencies 

Join us in building a stronger, more prepared healthcare system for Central Texas. 

Get Involved

Your participation strengthens our healthcare system’s resilience! Here’s how you can support HPP efforts: 

  • Attend bi-monthly HCC meetings 
  • Participate in training, exercises, and After-Action Reviews (AARs) 
  • Share feedback, concerns, and innovative ideas 
  • Engage with community preparedness initiatives 
  • Promote collaboration among healthcare and emergency response agencies 

Join us in building a stronger, more prepared healthcare system for Central Texas.