NCJ Number
189786
Date Published
2000
Length
28 pages
Annotation
The report summarizes the Year One activities of three local public health agencies selected as Centers for Public Health Preparedness.
Abstract
As concern over infectious disease emergencies continues to increase, many local public health agencies are looking for models to improve their capacity to detect and respond to bioterrorism and other adverse and urgent health events. The DeKalb County Board of Health, Georgia; Denver Health, Colorado; and the Monroe County Health Department, New York were the three sites that began their program-specific activities in September 1999. The three Center sites worked to improve in the areas of integrated communications and information systems across multiple sectors, advanced operational readiness assessment, and comprehensive training and evaluation. Results indicate that enhancements to public health capacity made possible by the Centers project have the potential to pay-off, even if a bioterrorism event never takes place. Partnerships are key to progress, but they can also slow progress. Internal functioning has been strengthened through the Centers project. Tabletop exercises provide excellent opportunities to formulate and test a plan, and to demonstrate the role of local public health in responding to a public health emergency. The real challenges of implementing technology improvements are often administrative, not technical. Although each Center site is unique, they do share common needs for communication and information applications and equipment. The Centers project requires a full-time commitment from agency staff. 3 figures and 1 table.