Readiness doesn’t happen overnight; it’s built by teams who train for the unexpected, plan for the worst and never stop improving.
That commitment has paid off significantly for the Special Isolation Unit team at Texas Children’s West Campus, which is led by Dr. Amy S. Arrington, Laura Arreola Boehm and Sondra Morris. The team has been selected to receive the Special Pathogen Treatment, Assessment, and Network Development (STAND) Award, securing $500,000 in grant funding from the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), the nation’s leader in special pathogen preparedness and response.
Chosen through a competitive national review process, the STAND Award honors hospitals and health systems whose teams are raising the bar for preparedness during high-consequence infectious disease events. This funding will enhance the Special Isolation Unit’s capabilities as a Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center (SPTC). As a Level 2 SPTC, the Special Isolation Unit team plays a vital role in assessing, treating and safely managing patients while supporting broader regional and national response efforts. The grant will also reinforce the team’s role within the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS). The NSPS is a tiered framework designed to ensure the highest quality care across the U.S. during outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases.
The prestigious award will directly support the team’s integral work by expanding staff training, enhancing specialized equipment and strengthening systems that support effective special pathogen care delivery. Throughout the award period, NETEC, in collaboration with the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers, will provide ongoing technical assistance, training and verification support to help the team meet Level 2 SPTC standards.
“This award is a testament to the dedication, expertise and teamwork of our Special Isolation Unit staff,” said Karen Sripan, director of Patient Care Services. “Their hard work ensures that we are ready to provide safe, high-quality care in the most challenging situations, and now, this funding will allow us to strengthen those capabilities even further.”
The national recognition reflects the discipline, collaboration and dedication of the Special Isolation Unit team at West Campus. Although their work is often behind the scenes, the team’s essential role allows our hospital to respond to the most serious and complex medical conditions, advance national standards for special pathogen care and support the well-being of patients, families and the community during high-risk situations.
Please join us in congratulating the Special Isolation Unit team on this remarkable recognition!