Support for National Disaster Medical System and Other Response Teams

Revised June 2019, June 2013 with current title, October 2006

Originally approved March 1999 replacing CR056 (Sep 1985) and CR019 (Oct 1991)

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) believes that every community needs a comprehensive plan for immediate emergency medical care in case its medical care system is overwhelmed or rendered ineffective in a disaster. As a component of this plan, ACEP supports the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) and encourages further development and funding of the program. ACEP also supports its members who participate in the Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT), Urban Search and Rescue (USAR teams), or other federal or state-sponsored medical teams. ACEP encourages entities such as health care facilities/systems and EMS services and employers such as medical practice groups to allow, encourage, and support their employees to participate.