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The Virginia Disaster Readiness Center is a program of the VCU Institute
for 21st Century Medical Challenges. The VDRC includes many partners
both within VCU, the State of Virginia and the Federal Government.
The VDRC is composed of three branches: the disaster medicine branch,
an educational branch, and a research branch.
The Disaster Medicine branch includes the VCU SMART group. The Special
Medical Assistance Response Team (SMART) is a group of highly trained
physicians, nurses and paramedics who can respond to unconventional medical
events. The advanced training of this group allows for an operational
medical response at the event scene to increase the opportunities for
survival of the victims.
The education branch is the main focus of the VDRC. The goal is to provide
the best educational capabilities in disaster medicine to Virginia and
the United States of America . The close proximity of Richmond to Washington
, DC requires vigilance and training to protect our citizens.
VCU has elected to use the ADLS™, BDLS™, CDLS™ and NDLS™ curriculum to develop and train first responders in disaster readiness. Through the HRSA grant, VCU began offering these training opportunities in March 2004. The VDRC homepage will provide updated information, registration information, and the ability to participate in distance learning.
The research branch is being expanded, and will rely in part upon the
extensive background of the VCU Reanimation Engineering and Shock Center
(VCURES) to grow
the VCU experience in combat casualty care and translate it to the civilian
population.
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