News
The Region 2 RESPTC Led a Special Pathogen Response Skills Training for Healthcare Professionals in Region 2
November 17, 2023


On November 17th, 2023, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue (Bellevue), the Region 2 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), hosted a training on critical special pathogen preparedness and response skills course. By training providers from over 19 healthcare entities from across New York and New Jersey, Region 2 is now more prepared to safely care for patients with special pathogens.
After donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with guidance from experts, training participants learned how to care for patients suspected of or confirmed with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID). The training focused on critical skills such as how to draw blood, clean spills, wrap patients, conduct nasal swabbing, and handle barriers.
“The Region 2 goal is to keep staff, patients, and communities safe when dealing with a special pathogen. We achieve this through training and education and …. providing guidance for any issues that may arise in the care of a special pathogens patient.”
-Trish Tennill, Region 2 RESPTC Nurse Lead

The Region 2 RESPTC invited experts from the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), including Jill Morgan and Jade Flinn, to share training practices from across the nation. NETEC’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response by closing knowledge gaps and developing innovative resources. NETEC experts worked alongside Region 2 RESPTC leaders to deliver a comprehensive and informed training.
Before the training started, participants learned from a series of presentations about special pathogen preparedness. Dr. Justin Chan overviewed the epidemiology of high-consequence infectious-diseases and discussed the importance of mitigating the spread of emerging infectious diseases.

New York City Health + Hospitals shared their Frontline Hospital Planning Guide for Special Pathogens as a resource for healthcare delivery systems. This resource provides guidance to support the provision of initial patient care for patients suspected of high-consequence infectious diseases.
Throughout the day, the RESPTC emphasized that healthcare workers should never feel alone when treating special pathogen patients. Through the coordinated components of the National Special Pathogen System of Care (NSPS), including the Region 2 RESPTC and NETEC, healthcare workers have a go-to resource for life-saving special pathogen preparedness and response information.