Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104771

Nicole V. Wineman, MA, MPH, MBA, Barbara I. Braun, PhD, Nicole L. Finn, MA, Stephen Schmaltz, PhD, and Jerod M. Loeb, PhD. Division of Research, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 1 Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, 630-792-5928, bbraun@jcaho.org

Purpose: To conduct a baseline assessment of hospital and community emergency preparedness linkages and test the extent to which better linkages are associated with perceived risk, experience preparing for large-scale events or experience responding to an emergency.

Methods: A mailed questionnaire was utilized to assess linkage issues in hospitals in early 2004. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of demographic and experience factors on selected questionnaire items. A health center linkage assessment is underway.

Results: Eighty percent of 593 responding hospitals participated in community-wide training and 93% in drills. Fifty-eight percent had seen the community plan for distributing the Strategic National Stockpile; 27% were involved in exercising its distribution. Fifty-six percent had a direct electronic link into the state health alert network. Regular meetings of the community emergency preparedness planning group were associated with urban location and experience responding to an emergency; presence of a separate health care coalition was associated with urban location. Having a mechanism for credentialing staff was associated with urban location; a mechanism for tracking patient location was associated with high perceived threats and prior preparation for large-scale events. Live answer 24/7 with public health was associated with urban location.

Conclusions: Responses suggesting strong linkages were more commonly reported among hospitals in urban areas and larger rural hospitals. Most hospitals are integrated into community emergency preparedness planning, but opportunities for improvement exist. Perceived risk, prior preparation for large-scale events and experience responding were only moderately associated with performance on selected questionnaire items

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Define the term "linkages" in terms of community emergency preparedness and response planning;
• Articulate the importance of linkages in overall community emergency preparedness, and;
• Apply the findings of the study and the conclusions drawn to begin to evaluate linkages in their community.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Disasters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.