February 2005 Frontline - Commissioned Officers Association

Florida, and several of Florida’s County
Departments of Health and Human
Services. Officers often acted as DHHS
representatives and performed a variety
of functions such as conducting daily
meetings and calls with operational
field units, the CDC, DOD, DHHS
Emergency Response Teams, DMATs
deployed throughout Florida, and with
other emergency operational units
around the state. Constant, effective,
and accurate communication was critical
to drafting daily Situation Reports
that could be communicated up
through DHHS so resources could be
allocated appropriately to maximize
their effect and so those resources could
be deployed as rapidly as possible. PHS
pharmacists also were utilized in
supporting administration, finance,
planning, public relations, logistics, and
training.
PHS officers filled many critical roles
during one of Florida’s worst hurricane
seasons. Their impact on improving the
public health of the state of Florida was
felt immediately and directly by the
thousands of citizens they treated in
hospitals, clinics and shelters and indirectly
through their supportive roles in
federal, state and local agencies
providing emergency response in the
wake of the hurricanes. PHS pharmacy
officers demonstrated an expanded
ability to fill many critical roles during
this DHHS deployment, and that often
required deployed personnel to respond
rapidly to the ever-changing situations
and conditions. PHS pharmacy officers
demonstrated their critical and valuable
role as clinical pharmacists and the
many other roles they filled as they
responded to the constantly changing
situations and conditions in each hurricane’s
aftermath.
PHS pharmacy officers are continuing
the long PHS tradition of
protecting the public health of this
nation. In a world that will continue to
experience disasters as seen in Florida,
maintaining public health during those
times will demand that healthcare
professionals adapt to ever-changing
and complex situations. PHS pharmacy
officers are meeting those demands
now, and proactively preparing for new
and unforeseen public health challenges
that lay ahead.
PHS BLAZER PATCH:
This is an elegant piece, hand
embroidered with silk and bullion
threads, 3" in diameter. The colors
are based on our original PHS Seal.
You would be proud to wear this on
the left pocket of a blazer when in
civilian attire. It coordinates with
the PHS "Regimental" Bow Tie.
[$15 each, or $17.00 when
purchased in a set with either the
PHS Seal Lapel Pin or PHS Flag
Lapel Pin]
PHS "Military" COIN:
The military services have a long
tradition of their own unit coin.
Always have it in your pocket (or
purse) to display when "challenged."
These make great gifts of appreciation
to uniformed services and
public health personnel. They are
almost 1-1/2" in diameter. Carry
your coin, show pride in your Corps.
[$10 each, or $12 when purchased
in a set with a PHS Seal Lapel Pin or
PHS Flag Lapel Pin]
PHS Memorabilia
Show Your Pride in the Commissioned Corps
and Public Health Service
Items shown above are smaller than original
PHS SEAL Lapel Pin
This lapel pin is dime size and duplicates
the PHS Seal in design, with gold colored
letters and a blue enamel background.
This coordinates with the Blazer Patch
and the Tie. [$5 each when purchased
separately]
PHS QUARANTINE FLAG
Lapel Pin
This lapel pin is dime size and is a miniature
version of the PHS Flag. It has the
PHS Seal in blue on a yellow background.
[$5 each when purchased separately,
$2 each if purchased with a tie,
coin, or patch.)
The DC COA Branch is your exclusive
source for these items to increase
esprit de corps and group identity.
Send a check made to "DC COA" and
mail to CAPT Susanne Caviness, 5901
Montrose Road, # N-309, North
Bethesda, MD 20852. Be sure to
include your mailing address. There is
no charge for postage! Order forms are
available at: www.dccoa.org or contact
CAPT Caviness 240-276-0475 x115;
susanne.caviness@fda.hhs.gov.
COA FRONTLINE • FEBRUARY 2005 19