About Us

The Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program (VHEMP) is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) designed to provide for the continued enhancement of medical surge capability through associated planning, personnel, equipment, training and exercise capabilities. Funding for this program is provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP).

VHEMP is responsible for assisting the Virginia Department of Health with preparedness and response efforts for the Emergency Support Function-8 (ESF-8) through the efforts of regional Healthcare Coalitions. 

Healthcare Coalitions (HCC) support preparedness in the Commonwealth of Virginia through the integration of healthcare facilities into four regional healthcare coalitions. The HCCs serve in a communication and coordination capacity for their respective region. 

• Ensures the integration of healthcare delivery into the broader community’s planning objectives and strategy development.
• Provides near real-time, multi-directional situational awareness and reporting during events and serves as a conduit to provide information to members and partners.
• Provide central coordination of regional response activities and sharing healthcare information, resources, and integration into local and regional responses. 
• Ensures resource needs that cannot be managed within the HCC itself are rapidly communicated to the Emergency Support Function 8.
• Provide healthcare emergency preparedness education, training and exercises.
• HCCs connect the element of medical response and provide the coordination mechanism among healthcare organizations, including hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency management organizations, and public health agencies.

The following Healthcare Coalitions constitute VHEMP: 

• Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition
• Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition
• Northern Virginia Emergency Response System
• Southwest Virginia Healthcare Coalition