Course Description

Course Description:

Those who respond to emergencies dedicate considerable time and effort to anticipating and planning for the many challenges that may arise during a crisis. However, the most complex challenges often stem not from the hazards themselves, but from the administrative and logistical challenges associated with managing an emergency operation. These challenges can hinder responders’ ability to effectively meet the demands of the event and can exacerbate the negative impact on affected individuals and communities. Even during blue-sky periods, challenges involving administration and logistics, including securing funding, managing staffing, or ensuring access to necessary equipment and medication, can make emergency response planning more difficult.

Learn from industry professionals who have successfully navigated these administrative and logistical challenges in emergency response situations, and discover the strategies they have used to overcome various practical obstacles and meet operational demands. During this 90-minute webinar, participants will:

1. Learn about the common practical, administrative, and logistical challenges that impact health emergency planning and response activities.
2. Understand how these administrative demands can create compounding challenges, such as ensuring continuity of operations and access to critical resources, which can have implications for other areas of hospital operations.
3. Identify practical strategies that have been successfully used to address administrative challenges during past emergency responses.
4. Learn methods and strategies to overcome administrative and logistic challenges that may be present during emergency operations.

Speaker: Edward Wurster-  former Chief Physical Security Officer for PPL Corporation, a leading investor-owned utilities company in the United States, where he shaped corporate emergency management, business continuity strategies, executive protection, and physical security programs protecting over $39 billion in assets. Recognized by the US Department of Homeland Security as a Master Exercise Practitioner, Wurster has designed and executed numerous multi-hazard exercises throughout the United States, fostering resilience and readiness in the face of adversity. Internationally, he has collaborated with government and public safety officials in Canada, Panama, South Korea and Turkey, elevating emergency response capabilities and enhancing preparedness measures. Ed has a master's degree in public safety management from Saint Joseph's University and has augmented his expertise through prestigious programs such as the University of Pennsylvania-Wharton School Security Executive Program and the FBI Graduate Domestic Security Executive Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Wurster holds certifications as a Chartered Security Professional, Certified Emergency Manager, Certified Healthcare Safety Professional and as a Certified Business Continuity Professional. Currently, Ed is the Manager, Business Continuity and Cyber Resilience for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, where he provides consultation, collaboration, and support to healthcare stakeholders."

This Course Meets the Requirements for 2025-2026 (BP2) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Deliverable 3.

The live webinar will be recorded.

Hosted by the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz

Target Audience: 

Emergency Management, mental health, hospital, public health workers, first responders, or anyone likely to become involved in the disaster response in their communities.

NOTE — PLEASE READ:

Please verify your contact information and employer information in your LMS profile when registering.  Any required course correspondence will be sent using the e-mail address listed in the LMS.