 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Megan C. McHugh, MPP1, Laurie E. Felland, MS2, and Andrea B. Staiti, BA2. (1) Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C., DC 20024, 202-484-5272, mmchugh@mathematica-mpr.com, (2) Center for Studying Health System Change, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20024
Background: Since 9/11, concern over local public health agencies’ ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies has grown exponentially. This study describes activities local public health agencies have been undertaking in 12 nationally representative communities to prepare for public health emergencies. It also describes variation in the state of readiness, discusses reasons for the variation, and identifies important gaps. Methods: Data are from the Community Tracking Study (CTS), a longitudinal study that tracks changes in local health care systems. Every other year, CTS conducts structured interviews with health providers, public health leaders, and other stakeholders in 12 communities. Respondents were asked to rate and discuss the community’s public health emergency preparedness based on several dimensions. Findings are based on site visits conducted between 2002 and 2003. Findings: (1) All 12 CTS communities are involved in public health preparedness efforts. The level of effort and priority of public health emergency preparedness activities by local public health agencies is high in most communities, yet the status of preparedness varies across sites. (2) Factors that contribute to a high state of readiness include experience preparing for pre-9/11 public health threats (e.g., West Nile, nuclear power plant emergencies, and large public events); strong public health leadership; adequate funding; and involvement of many sectors of the community. (3) Emergency preparedness efforts are weakest in the areas of education and training of workforce and communications and information technology; they are strongest in the area of preparedness planning and readiness assessment.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Emergency, Local Public Health Agencies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Center for Studying Health System Change,
Mathematica Policy Research,
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the sole funder of the Center for Studying Health System Change. The Center for Studying Health System Change contracted with Mathematica Policy Research for assistance with the development of this paper and presenta