 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jessica D. Martinez, MPH, Witold M. Migala, MPH, PhD, Michael J. Kazda, MA, and Elizabeth Rossmann Beel, MPH. Epidemiology & Assessment, City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, 1800 University Dr., Ste 216, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817.871.6241, Jessica.Martinez@fortworthgov.org
Redundant communication and connectivity strengthen preparedness and response to a public health emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Health Alert Network (HAN) to improve communication between public health officials. The HAN disseminates health alerts, advisories, and disease-related information via email, cellular phone, fax and pager to public health, medical, and emergency management personnel. The unique implementation of the North Central Texas Health Alert Network has enhanced the system’s capability to provide timely information to regional and state public health entities. A users group was organized to improve communication between regional HAN users, administrators, and public health officials. This group offers a forum to cultivate strategies for HAN implementation, improvements and developments. Since its inception as a regional initiative, the North Central Texas HAN users group expanded to incorporate users and administrators throughout the state. Further innovation includes obtaining commitments from over 600 physicians, infection control nurses, and emergency management personnel for inclusion in the contact database. The HAN uses land-based and wireless communication capabilities to ensure timely and redundant access to these public health partners in an emergency. These activities have been recognized statewide as a model for replication in other communities. Such strategies will increase the likelihood of effective response in the event of a public health emergency.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Information Systems, Public Health Informatics
Related Web page: https://txhan.tdh.state.tx.us
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.