Vision: CHUG’s Vision is to be the recognized leader and advocate for Special Needs Populations residing in Healthcare Facilities for emergency planning, response and recovery.
Mission: To promote and develop integrated collaborations to support the specialized emergency preparedness requirements of Healthcare Facilities through research, education, planning and response programs.
Concept: The Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group (CHUG) is an Illinois based 501c 3 Non-for-Profit organization that was formed to address a significant gap in local disaster planning, specifically, the absence of a comprehensive and integrated community wide evacuation plan for Healthcare Facilities. The CHUG plan was developed to provide a mutual aid system that addresses the health and well being issues that special needs populations residing in healthcare facilities may encounter during an evacuation, transportation and relocation as a result of a an emergency, disaster, or other urgent event. The organization collaborates with local government, emergency management, public safety, hospitals, home health, transportation providers, health departments and other support organizations.
The CHUG Plan is designed to integrate with existing organizational, local, regional and statewide plans. The CHUG plan is National Incident Command System (NIMS) compliant, providing organizations with the tools and resources to effectively evacuate, transport and relocate residents and patients. The most critical component of the plan is the intent to maintain the medical and, psychological care and independence of each patient or resident by utilizing a systematic triage process and then transporting the patient/resident via the appropriate level of transport to the appropriate level of receiving facility.
The CHUG plan is a comprehensive system that utilizes Standard Operating Guidelines, Job Action Sheets and NIMS compliant forms for Triage, Patient Tracking and Resource Utilization. The CHUG plan also includes an activation/notification system, communication plan and resource management components.
The CHUG Plan is a time tested and proven plan, having been implemented on several occasions. The CHUG Plan is continually revised and upgraded following major events, and large scale exercises. The CHUG implementation and training program is state-of-the art providing participating organizations, with the education, training and confidence to safely and effectively execute the plan when needed.
The overarching goal of CHUG is to insure that all healthcare facilities have an up-to-date, functional and integrated plan that provides the information and skills to work collaboratively with all stakeholders including transportation providers, hospitals, Emergency Services, Health Departments and other support agencies. This goal and the subsequent coordinated/collaborative effort is a major paradigm shift in the planning for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters for Healthcare Facilities.
National Standards CHUG has adopted and applied The National Response Framework (NRF), including ESF 6 and ESF 8, The National Incident Command System (NIMS), and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) to provide guidance and direction for all Emergency Operations Plans, training and education. CHUG encourages all participating organizations to apply these standards and guidelines to their planning and preparedness efforts.
Goals - 2009 To secure sustainable revenues streams to provide the resources and infrastructure to support CHUG's vision and mission. To recruit and enlist CHUG clusters and membership throughout the states of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. To increase emergency services and support agency awareness of CHUG capabilities and services. To increase collaborations and integration with community partners and stakeholders. To identify and implement an electronic patient and resident tracking system. To finalize Strategic National Stockpile non-hospital healthcare facility distribution plans with suburban Cook County as a pilot program for other communities. To provide training and consulting services to long term care facilities, hospitals and other healthcare providers. To develop a response team and fully functional CHUG Emergency Operations Center.
Organizational Structure CHUG was established in 1997 and became a 501 c 3 Not for Profit Organization registered with the State of Illinois in 2002. CHUG has a 13 member Board of Directors and a two person Management Team supported by numerous volunteers. CHUG is primarily funded by membership dues, contributions, consulting fees and special projects. CHUG has over 250 member organizations and agencies representing 8 counties and 3 states CHUG Office’s are located at: 2250 E. Devon Suite 124, Des Plaines, Il 60016
Community Participation Cook County Department of Public Health/ Chicago Department of Public Health, Special Needs Advisory Panel (SNAP) CMAP 2020- Special Needs Population- Subject Matter Experts Maine Township Regional Medical Reserve Corp Illinois Bioterrorism Task Force- Special Needs Population Sub Committee Regional Catastrophic Planning Team- Mass Care/Mass Sheltering Committee Chicago Organizations Against Disaster Salvation Army Golden Diners Board Member Elgin Senior Services Provider Network Board Member American Red Cross Hero Award Recipient- Connie Polke – 2009 Aurora Township Senior Services Providers Network Northern Illinois Emergency Management Consortium EMS Region 10 Disaster Planning Committee Lutheran General Hospital Disaster Planning Committee Chicago Long Term Care Committee Joint Community Resource and Response Team Regional CHUG Cluster Committees
Relevant Experience Implemented the CHUG Plan 2001- Evacuation, Transportation and Relocation for Healthcare Facilities Conducted Workshops in Collaboration with Mather Lifeways- HealthCare Facility Emergency Planning Envisioned and Co-Developed Regional Coordination System for Cook County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Developed CCPDH Strategic National Stockpile Distribution Plan for Healthcare Facilities Developed and Conducted Regional Workshops with Illinois Public Health Association( IPHA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health ( IDPH) - Mass Care/Mass Sheltering for Special Needs Populations Conducted Numerous Multi-Agency Table-top Exercises (TTX) and Functional Exercises (FE) with Special Needs Populations Components Participated in Chicago EOMC Pump Failure Incident- 2008 Participant in the Chicago Department of Public Health-Long Term Care Emergency Preparedness Grant (CDC) Participant in the Chicago Hospital System-ASPR Grant Alternate Care Sites and Evacuation Developed and organized the CHUG, Ballard Healthcare and Optimal Care Solutions-Long Term Care Evacuation Study Currently developing the Macomb County, MI-Special Needs Population TTX, Special Needs Population SNS Distribution Plan, and Warren, MI CHUG Pilot Program.
CHUG Collaborations: CHUG believes that a diverse, comprehensive and collaborative strategy is required to address the complex medical, psychological and independence needs of Healthcare Facility patients and residents during an emergency and/or disaster. CHUG has diligently identified and recruited many organizations and agencies to become part of the CHUG network. These include: Hospitals Long Term Care Facilities Assisted Living Facilities Independent Living Facilities Mental Health Facilities and Hospitals Group Homes for Developmental Disabilities Department of Health and Human Services Municipalities Health Departments Emergency Services Transportation Providers Corporate Partners Non-Governmental Organizations Volunteer Groups Faith Based Organizations Special Needs Advisory Panels Sheltered Care Facilities Hospice Providers Home Health Providers Durable Medical Equipment Home Care Providers Infusion Providers 911 Dispatch Centers
CHUG Mermbership and Partnerships The American Red Cross Illinois Department of Public Health Illinois Department of Human Services Illinois Public Health Association Cook County Department of Public Health Chicago Department of Public Health Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Illinois State Police Cook County Emergency Management Agency Advocate Health Care Metropolitan Support Services (MSS) The Salvation Army The City of Park Ridge EMS Region 10 Maine Township District 207 Schools Illinois Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security Private Providers Emergency Response System (PPERS) City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications Chicago Fire Department North Suburban Emergency Communication Center Joint Community Resource and Recovery Team Illinois Emergency Services Management Association Chicago Department of Human Services Illinois Department On Aging Red Center 911 Communication Superior Ambulance Advance Ambulance Bud’s Ambulance Village of Skokie Village of Hoffman Estates City of Elgin Rainbow Hospice Life Services Network (LSN) Sprint/ Nextel Mather Lifeways Northwest Municipal Conference Illinois Bioterrorism Task Force Illinois Home Care Council Over 200 Hospitals, Long Term Care, Assisted Living, Developmentally Disability, Hospice and other Healthcare Facilities.
Products and Services Training and Facilitation Services Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) including: Discussion-Based Exercises Seminars Workshops Tabletop Exercises Games Operations-Based Exercises Drills Functional Exercises Full-Scale Exercises Exercise Program Management
Mini Seminars for Healthcare Facilities Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Following a Disaster at Long Term Care Facilities Emergency Resources Management for Healthcare Facilities Internal and External Evacuation Systems and Patient Movement Techniques Incident Management Systems for Healthcare Facilities Vulnerability Assessments for Healthcare Facilities Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) for Healthcare Facilities NIMS and Incident Command for Healthcare Facilities
Consulting Services Strategic National Stockpile Distribution and Dispensing Plans for Healthcare Facilities Emergency Planning for Healthcare and Special Needs Facilities Healthcare and Special Needs Facility Emergency Operation Plans and Templates Healthcare and Special Needs Facility Emergency Evacuation Plans Mass Care/ Mass Sheltering Strategies for Special Needs Populations Post Disaster Damage Assessment and Recovery Strategies For Special Needs Populations Emergency Planning Database Design and Consulting
Products Incident Command Kits for Healthcare Facilities Emergency Operation Plan Templates For Healthcare Facilities Hard Copy Electronic/ CD Incident Command System Lanyards
Management Team Profiles
Connie Polke, CRT Connie is the Executive Director of Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group, a Respiratory Care Practitioner and Account Manager for Advocate Home Health Services. Connie has brought together extended care facilities, fire and police departments, transportation organizations, hospitals, healthcare facilities and emergency management to collaborate on an emergency preparedness plans for the community and special needs populations. Connie is the founder of the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group (CHUG), which was established in 1997. Connie, as Executive Director, has been instrumental in the development of CHUG’s Standard Operating Guidelines, educational programs, and exercises for evacuation, infectious disease outbreak for healthcare organizations. Her responsibilities include facilitating, training, organizing tabletop and hands on exercises for CHUG members and oversight of CHUG’s growth. She is the recipient for the 2009 American Red Cross “Hero of the Year Award” for her involvement with flooding disasters in 2008. Connie serves as a Board Member on the Salvation Army Golden Diners and Elgin Senior Service Provider Network.
Bill Pretzer, MA Bill is a 30-year veteran of the Park Ridge Fire Department. He currently serves as a Battalion Chief responsible for Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness for the department. Bill has a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-med from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Safety and Health Administration from De Paul University. Bill is also very active in community disaster planning, focusing on evacuation and mass sheltering for Healthcare Facilities and Special Needs Populations. As an independent trainer and consultant Bill has worked with major utilities, the commuter rail industry, local government, hospitals and long-term care facilities in several areas including safety and disaster preparedness. Currently, Bill is the Director of Operations for the Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group.