About the OMHCC

The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1997 authorized funding for “medical strike teams,” and the subsequent development of the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Program. In 1997, the Department of Defense, in conjunction with the Omaha Fire Department, presented two programs for Hospital Providers and one for Emergency First Responders. After exercises, improvement plans, and planning meetings, the strike team became more organized and selected chairpersons in 1999. Team membership was expanded to include other identified agencies, community plans were assessed, and the region applied for federal funding.
 

In 2000, the region changed from a strike team to a federally recognized MMRS region. The MMRS program supported enhancement of existing local first responder, medical, public health, and emergency management by increasing systematic, integrated capabilities to manage a mass casualty incident. 
 

In 2016, the Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System (OMMRS) became a 501(c) (3) Non-Profit Organization, establishing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The OMMRS service area was designated by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS) as the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Healthcare Coalition for a five-county region in east central Nebraska. The five counties are Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Saunders, and Washington. Two counties in Iowa (Pottawattamie and Harrison), included in the original OMMRS structure, are considered partners for situational awareness and information sharing. 
 

The OMMRS Hospital Committee was originally designated as the Healthcare Coalition Committee by the former OMMRS/HPP/HCC Executive Chairs Committee. The OMMRS HPP/HCCC is now restructured as the Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition (OMHCC) and is a program directed by the OMMRS/HPP/HCC 501(c)3 Board of Directors. An OMHCC Executive Committee comprised of representatives from hospital healthcare (2), public health (1), emergency management (1), emergency medical services (1), and non-hospital healthcare (1) along with the OMHCC fiscal agent (1) and the OMHCC Coordinator (1) has been authorized by the Board of Directors to oversee and manage the OMHCC.