Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Georgia Receives $20 Million in Public Safety Grants

Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced the release of $20 million in Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These awards will help state and local first responders improve emergency communications and coordination during a natural or man-made disaster.

“These awards will assist our state’s first responders during critical moments when communications are essential to protecting the citizens of Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The PSIC grant will increase our ability to communicate effectively and save lives across the state.”

The PSIC grant program is designed to assist public safety agencies in the acquisition, deployment, or training in the use of interoperable communications systems for emergency responders.

These awards were made pursuant to a request from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) in December 2007. The awards were allocated to Chatham County Information and Communications Services for distribution to Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn and Liberty counties and the city of Savannah to enhance the Southeast Georgia Regional Radio Network (SEGARRN); to the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office and Coastal Network jurisdictions to expand SEGARNN; to Troup County for Troup and Harris counties and Columbus Consolidated Government to improve the West-Central Georgia Regional Radio System (WCGRRS); to Carroll County for upgrades to the Western Area Regional Radio System (WARRS); and to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office for Catoosa, Walker and Dade counties to improve the Northwest Georgia Interoperable Communications Network (NWGIC).

“It is critical for first responders from different jurisdictions and agencies to have the proper tools and equipment available when they respond to an incident,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency – Homeland Security Director Charley English. “The PSIC grant approval enhances our state’s communications capabilities.”

Each public safety agency receiving PSIC funds is required to meet and document a 20 percent statutory match requirement for each project during the period of performance of the grant.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Actions Taken by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy at its March 12 Meeting

The Georgia State Board of Pharmacy held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

The Board adopted revisions to the following rules:

480-13 Hospital Pharmacy Regulations. Provides definitions for Remote Location, Remote Order Entry, and Remote Order Entry Pharmacist.
480-13-.03 Personnel. Provides that the Director of Pharmacy is responsible for the implementation of written policies and the clinical operations and staff protocol of the pharmacy.
480-13-.04 Absence of Pharmacist. Amended. Allows for remote order entry under certain conditions.

The Board accepted the following public consent orders:

Shirley Morris-Adams, Peachtree City: Public reprimand and $500 fine for allowing the pharmacy technician at Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care to access the pharmacy, open the pharmacy and start preparations without the licensed pharmacist present.

Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care, Riverdale: Public reprimand and $500 fine for allowing the pharmacy technician to access the pharmacy, open the pharmacy and start preparations without the licensed pharmacist present.

Nader Afif El-Kareh, Buford: Suspended license for admitting to an arrest for possession of Hydrocodonem Alpraxolam and diet pills not in the original containers and not labeled in accordance with Georgia law.

The Georgia State Board of Pharmacy will hold its next meeting Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards Division in Macon, Georgia.