Cross-training: How to beef up your outbreak response capabilities

Josephine Peters, RN, MA and Elissa Laitin, MS. Public Health Division, Arlington County, VA, 1800 North Edison St., Arlington, VA 22207, 7032285183, elaitin@co.arlington.va.us

Recognizing the need for broad-based competency in responding to public health emergencies, Public Health Division employees in Arlington County formed a unique multidisciplinary team. Staff were recruited from communicable disease, environmental health, school health, family health, aging and disability, and behavioral health programs. This “epi response team” has received training in topics that span the public health spectrum, from incident management to risk communication, from smallpox investigation to personal preparedness. Recognizing the need to support the mental and physical needs of employees during an emergency, staff from the county’s Employee Assistance Program have been integrated into the team as well.

The presentation will cover the creation and evolution of the team, the trainings we have provided in order to build capacity, lessons learned, and recommendations on moving past common obstacles and myths. We will discuss approaches for engaging non-communicable disease employees in preparation for, and in response to, public health emergencies. We will also discuss our employee assistance program and other support mechanisms used to keep employees motivated.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to

1-Construct an expanded response team by motivating staff to go above and beyond their job descriptions.
2-Train staff to respond to bioevents, even with limited resources.
3-Create plans to overcome common obstacles and myths in expanding public health capacity.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation

Emergency Preparedness Training

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA