NETEC Wrapped 2024
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As we reflect on 2024, the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) has continued its vital work supporting preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). From delivering targeted consultations to leading international collaborations, NETEC’s work remains essential in strengthening the public health and healthcare systems. Here is a quick look back at some activities, achievements, and milestones in 2024.
Consultation & Assessment
NETEC provides special pathogen support via free virtual and onsite readiness consultations and assessments, across the U.S. and internationally. Over the past year, NETEC has:
- Completed 132 Targeted Support Service cases within the U.S.
- Supported 7 international cases
- Delivered a total of 164 hours of consultations and assessments
These efforts have enabled healthcare systems to better understand and manage the complexities of HCIDs, ensuring that facilities are well-equipped to respond in the event of an outbreak.
Request Virtual or On-Site Consultation.
Webinars
Education and outreach are vital to NETEC’s mission. Through webinars, NETEC has successfully reached thousands of healthcare professionals and public health experts around the world. A few quick numbers about our webinars:
- 6 webinars
- 4,878 attendees
- 2,075 streaming hours
These webinars not only increase awareness but also provided valuable, up-to-date information, which included the revised Infection Control Joint Commission Standards.
Watch NETEC Webinars on YouTube.
Podcasts
NETEC engages diverse audiences through various platforms, including through our own Transmission Interrupted podcast, currently delivering new episodes every first Wednesday of the month. This year, NETEC released:
- 3 podcast episodes (averaging 30 minutes)
- Downloaded 1,000 times, reflecting a growing audience
Listen to Transmission Interrupted.
Downloadable Resources
One of NETEC’s most valuable contributions is its wide range of downloadable resources. These include guides, presentations, checklists, and medical illustrations, which are designed to be practical tools for healthcare staff who lead or are involved with special pathogen work. This year, there were 14,500 downloads of resources, which are all free through NETEC’s Resource Library.
Conferences & Events
NETEC’s presence at international and domestic conferences is another way the organization ensures knowledge sharing, partnership-building, and collaboration. NETEC participated in over a dozen conferences held in locations ranging from Las Vegas to Seoul. Here are some of the conferences we attended:
- Emergency Nurses Association Conference – Las Vegas
- The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) 2024 Scientific Assembly – Las Vegas
- IDWeek – Los Angeles
- Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals (AHEPP) – Texas
- American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Annual Meeting – Boston
- FDIC International Conference – Indianapolis
- International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Conference – Colorado Springs
- National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference (NHCPC) – Orlando
- The Preparedness Summit – Cleveland
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Summit – Seoul, South Korea
Regional Preparedness
NETEC plays a key role in strengthening the capacity of healthcare systems to manage HCID events. As the Coordinating Body for the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS) of Care, NETEC provides critical support and resources to NSPS members, including Level 1 facilities which serve as resource hubs for regions, providing highly specialized care delivery to patients suspected of or infected by a special pathogen
Our Level 1 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) conduct training exercises and undergo annual assessments to ensure they are prepared manage special pathogen events.
Publications
NETEC experts have also contributed to the scientific and medical communities by publishing their work in respected journals. These publications share critical insights and innovations in the management of HCIDs, advancing both public health knowledge and clinical practice.
Through these contributions, NETEC continues to be a leader in the field of emerging infectious disease preparedness and response.
- Health Security (Enhancing Collaboration Between Global High-Level Isolation Units)
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus for Clinicians-Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Prevention
- Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus for Clinicians—Virology, Pathogenesis, and Pathology
- NETEC: Annual Report FY2023
Acknowledgments
The success of NETEC’s programs and initiatives would not be possible without the dedication of countless individuals and organizations. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the subject matter experts, clinicians, public health professionals, and other members of the 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Centers (RESPTCs), as well as our international partners and the funders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
These partnerships and collaborative efforts have been crucial in advancing NETEC’s mission and ensuring the preparedness of healthcare systems in the U.S. and beyond our borders.
We look forward to continue working together to increase the capability of the U.S. public health and health care systems to safely and effectively manage special pathogens in 2025 and beyond!