Melissa Marquis, MS, RN, has joined the Office of Emergency Management as Medical Resiliency Coordinator.

Submitted 

The West Hartford Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Marquis, MS, RN, as the Medical Resiliency Coordinator, effective July 1, 2024. This newly created position underscores the town’s commitment to bolstering preparedness efforts in response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing demands for disaster planning.

The responsibilities of the Medical Resiliency Coordinator include:

• Acting as a liaison between the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District and the Office of Emergency Management.
• Assisting in enhancing medical resiliency and preparedness for West Hartford residents.
• Developing standard operating procedures for activating the At-Risk Community Health Program (ARCH) team, leveraging data from Eversource and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emPOWER to support electrically dependent individuals.
• Conducting medical preparedness outreach and training for stakeholders and residents.
• Creating accessible preparedness information for patients through presentations and training sessions.
• Addressing health equity and diversity within emergency operations plans.
• Collaborating with West Hartford emergency medical services to implement community measures aimed at reducing demand on emergency services personnel.
• Facilitating preparedness within underserved communities and supporting residents’ medical needs during emergency situations.
• Coordinating the activation of an Emergency Operations Center when there are public health and medical concerns.

Marquis brings a wealth of experience as the Public Health Emergency Response Specialist at the West Hartford Bloomfield Health District, where she has been instrumental in various COVID-19 response initiatives alongside the West Hartford Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management. Her contributions included setting up vaccination clinics, distributing personal protective equipment, and administering vaccinations to vulnerable populations.

Fire Chief Gregory Priest, Emergency Management Director, commented, “Melissa Marquis’s appointment reinforces our commitment to enhancing community resilience. Her expertise will be invaluable in ensuring our readiness to address public health challenges effectively.”

Aimee Krauss, Director of the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, added, “The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is thrilled to expand our partnership with the West Hartford Office of Emergency Management. This collaboration will better equip both agencies to respond to future events and ensure the safety of our community.”

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