USDA - APHIS - Animal Health - Emergency Management Response System

EMRS Training

Every Fiscal Year, EMRS offers a variety of training courses. To see which EMRS courses are available this Fiscal Year, including specific dates and registration procedures, please visit the Professional Development Training web site and view the "Professional Development Staff (PDS)" Training Catalog. The list of training courses below gives you an idea of the types of classes that may be available.

For general questions about the EMRS Training Courses or to request customized training for your state or office please contact EMRSSupport@aphis.usda.gov

EMRS Basics Training (2 Courses)
	Target Participants:
		Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) and other personnel responsible for reporting routine FAD/EDI investigations Personnel assigned to animal disease outbreaks and emergencies Administrative personnel
	Training Format:
		Downloadable Files or CD/DVD: If you have access to EMRS you can download these courses by logging into any EMRS Instance and, from the Main Menu, selecting 'EMRS Documentation, Downloads, & Tutorials'. Under Tutorials, follow the Tutorial Setup Instructions to download the courses. If you do not have access to EMRS you may request a CD/DVD from EMRS Support (using the e-mail address above to request a copy).
	Pre-Requisites:
		None
	Course Description:
		The two courses that comprise this training focus on the EMRS Administration module and the EMRS Investigation module. Participants receive basic instruction on how to use EMRS, including logging into the system and entering data related to specific emergency response activities.

EMRS Advanced Training (1 Course)
	Target Participants:
		Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) and other personnel responsible for reporting routine FAD/EDI investigations Personnel assigned to animal disease outbreaks and emergencies Administrative personnel
	Training Format:
		Classroom-based training
	Pre-Requisites:
		Participants MUST complete BOTH EMRS Basic Training courses prior to attending this course.
	Course Description:
		This course includes advanced training in workflow management techniques that are used during an emergency response, including using combinations of zone statuses and premises visit forms. Advanced data management, data extraction and manipulation, forecasting, report generation, and mapping are also covered.

EMRS for Area Epidemiologists (1 Course)
	Target Participants:
		VS Area and State Epidemiologists
	Training Format:
		Classroom-based training
	Pre-Requisites:
		Participants MUST complete BOTH EMRS Basic Training courses prior to attending this course.
	Course Description:
		This course concentrates on the high-level concepts surrounding the tracing and control of Foreign Animal and Program diseases. Methodology used in recent TB and Brucellosis incidents serve as a model for demonstrating the use of EMRS as a fully-functional disease management tool for Area Epidemiologists. Participants are expected to learn how to utilize the Investigation Module to document the tracing of disease events, all control activities, as well as report on those activities

EMRS Incident Management Team (IMT) Training (1 Course)
	Target Participants:
		Incident Management Team Members
	Training Format:
		Classroom-based training
	Pre-Requisites:
		Participants MUST be members of a selected Incident Management Team, and complete BOTH EMRS Basic Training courses prior to attending.
	Course Description:
		This course is designed for Incident Management Teams. The training consists of three full days. The first day is devoted to a complete overview of EMRS and practice exercises on data entry and reporting from EMRS. The second and third days consist of a scenario based exercise using EMRS to manage a new outbreak while practicing Incident Command System (ICS) principles (including the planning cycle and situation reporting using data from EMRS). Team building is encouraged during each day's exercises and the team is encouraged to develop its own evening team-building exercises as well.

EMRS Specialist Conference (1 Course)
	Target Participants:
		Individuals who are designated EMRS Specialists
	Training Format:
		Live conference (with multiple workshops, discussion roundtables, etc.)
	Pre-Requisites:
		You MUST be a designated EMRS Specialist in order to attend this conference.
	Course Description:
		This course gives EMRS Specialists the opportunity to meet to discuss emerging issues related to EMRS, learn about enhancements to the EMRS, and provide input on EMRS issues, training, and needs. Use of both the Investigation Module and the Administration Module is covered, and each specialist participates in course exercises.