Global Center for Health Security
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University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Clinical

A battle-tested go-to resource on hazards. 

The Global Center for Health Security is the premier U.S. institution for management of high-consequence infections and hazards.Our clinical capabilities include biological, chemical, burn, and radiation domains. This is in part due to the GCHS having the nation's largest biocontainment unit, the only federal quarantine facility, and sophisticated on-site labs.

Nebraska has become the global go-to resource on isolation and biopreparedness thanks to a battle-tested, interdisciplinary team that pioneered and set the standard for dealing safely with infectious pathogens.

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Our Clinical Capabilities

The clinical capabilities of the Global Center for Health Security offer extensive experience and skills for dealing with high-consequence infections and hazards. The Global Center is leading clinical preparedness, with the team hailed for its bravery for treating patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the first state public health labs in the country to handle Ebola and COVID-19 cases.

The center is home to the nation's only federal quarantine center and one of the nation's largest biocontainment units. From monitoring potential exposure to treating high-consequence infections, the Global Center for Health Security is on the front lines. 

We are using our expertise to fight Highly Hazardous Communicable Diseases where they start and save lives around the world and at home. The Global Center for Health Security is creating a network to prepare for and respond to high-consequence infections. This work includes a clinical trials network and rapid exchange of information during international pandemics, as well as  improving the treatment and survival of sepsis in Africa and Asia.

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Our Clinical-Related Programs

R7DHRE

Region VII Disaster Health Response Ecosystem (R7DHRE): The goal is to develop a flexible self-sustaining ecosystem for Region 7 emergency/disaster preparedness,  capable of leveraging resources from community grassroot support and traditional healthcare organizations. The R7DHRE includes subject matter experts spanning multiple specialties such as pediatrics, behavioral health, biological, burn, chemical, trauma and economics.

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NICS

National Infection Control Strengthening (NICS): Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University Nebraska Medical Center, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, was selected as an innovation partner as part of Project Firstline with a focus on strengthening infection prevention and control programs in healthcare facilities in underserved areas to develop innovative programs, services, and product development strategies to strengthen IPC nationally and globally.

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SHIPC

Strengthening Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control and Improving Patient Safety in the United States (SHIPC):Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in partnership with Nebraska Medicine, was selected as part of the competitive application process to accelerate work initiated with the original NICS award. SHIPC continues our focus on targeting innovation to vulnerable aspects of our healthcare system that face persistent challenges in infection control outcomes.

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NETEC

National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center (NETEC): NETEC's mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources. Over the past two years, NETEC has initiated work to redefine the tiered structure nationally through the National Special Pathogens System of Care (NSPS).

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SPRN

Special Pathogens Research Network (SPRN): SPRN, an activity of NETEC, is a network of U.S. institutions who currently serve as Regional Special Pathogen Treatment Centers that are committed to the development and maintenance of rapid response clinical research infrastructure. 

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D-SAFE

Public Health Training Service (D-SAFE): In 2022, USPHS partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) Global Center for Health Security (GCHS), the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Texas A&M University to create and implement the Public Health Service Deployment Safety Academy for Field Experiences (PHS D-SAFE) to train USPHS officers on personal safety and security when deployed to environments with potential for COVID- 19 or high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) exposure.

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Our Clinical Resources

Biological Resources

RESPTC | NBU
The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) was one of two go-to sites nationwide for the U.S. Department of State in 2014, and now serves as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region VII Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC). This 10-bed unit has been operational since 2005 and cared for three patients infected with Ebola Virus Disease during the 2014 outbreak, as well as early patients with COVID-19 in 2020.
TSQC | NQU
The National Quarantine Unit (NQU), the nation’s only federal quarantine facility, is located in the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center at UNMC. Located near the training and simulation center, this 20-bed quarantine facility will be the primary federal destination for people exposed to high-consequence infections.
NPHL
Located on the UNMC campus, the Nebraska Public Health Lab is the collaboration between UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) lab became the first state public health laboratory in the U.S. to test specimens that were positive for the Ebola virus disease (EVD), and played a key role in the biocontainment care of three patients with EVD in 2014. The lab was integrally involved in testing for COVID-19 in 2020.
R7DHRE- Biological Team
The R7DHRE partners with the Region VII Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), the National Emerging Special Pathogen Training & Education Center (NETEC), and the UNMC Global Center for Health Security.
NETEC
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center's (NETEC) mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.
ICAP
Nebraska Medicine's ICAP (Infection Control Assessment and Promotion Program) provides resources to promote appropriate infection prevention and control practices.
Omaha Metropolitan Health Care Coalition (OMHCC)
The Healthcare Coalition promotes optimal incident awareness and planning for its member organizations through the collection, aggregation, and dissemination of incident information as well as the promotion of coordinated response strategies.

Chemical Resources

R7DHRE- Chemical Team
The Region VII Disaster Health Response Ecosystem's (R7DHRE) chemical team an asset, available 24/7, to assist in the medical management of chemical and toxicological incidents throughout Region VII. The Nebraska Poison Control Center is a partner.
Nebraska Poison Control Center
The Nebraska Poison Control Center has a specially trained team of registered nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.
CBRN Agents
Chemical Incidents: CBRN Agents Overview and Quick Reference Guide
CDC Chemical Agents
A list of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's chemical agents.
Chemical Burn First Aid
Toxic chemicals react with the skin, may not be easily removed, and thereby continue to cause injury for an extended time. The severity of a chemical burn is reduced by prompt recognition and reducing the duration of contact. Learn more about chemical burns and first aid.

Burn Resources

R7DHRE- Burn Team
The R7DHRE Burn Specialty Team is a regional resource available to augment personnel and supply needs in coordination with local and state resources and regional ABA burn coordinators in the event of a large scale burn incident that exceeds the capability of the burn center.

Radiation Resources

R7DHRE- Radiological Team
The Radiological Specialty Team / Radiological Specialty Response Teams (RSRT) is available to assist in the management of radiologic and nuclear emergencies where requirements exceed the capabilities of local clinical and response personnel.
UNMC Radiation Safety
Radiation Safety is responsible for the management of radioactive material and the use of radiation at UNMC in accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulatory requirements.

Disaster Available Supplies

ASPR Tracie- Burn Supply Module
The DASH Burn Supply Module (BSM) is intended to help hospitals plan for a large number of burn patients presenting to their facility following a mass casualty incident. Based on user inputs about hospital characteristics, the module estimates supplies needed for initial dressings, topical treatments, and patient care.
ASPR Tracie- Trauma Supply Module
The DASH Trauma Supply Module (TSM) is intended to help hospitals estimate supplies needed to care for seriously injured trauma patients in the first 48 hours following a mass casualty incident. Estimates of needed supplies are based on the hospital’s trauma level and adjusted for factors including the number of emergency department beds, the hospital’s role in the community, and a facility’s potential isolation following a natural disaster.
ASPR Tracie- Hospital Pharmacy Module
The DASH Hospital Pharmacy Module (HPM) is intended to provide estimates of pharmaceuticals and intravenous fluids that may be required at a facility for the first 48 hours after a mass casualty incident occurs.
ASPR Tracie- Personal Protective Equipment
The DASH Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Module is intended to help hospitals plan for supplemental PPE needs of personnel providing acute care to patients with confirmed or suspected special pathogen infection or pandemic type event.
Strategic National Stockpile
The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is part of the federal medical response infrastructure and can supplement medical countermeasures needed by states, tribal nations, territories and the largest metropolitan areas during public health emergencies.

GCHS Domains

Learn more about our domains.

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