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

Abstract #112178

Gretchen W. Torres, MPP¹, Angela Anderson, MPP¹, and Reed Grier, MCP, MPH². (1) Health Research and Educational Trust, One North Franklin, 30th floor, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-422-2638, gtorres@aha.org, (2) Reed Grier and Associates, 52 Oakwood St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Over the past two years, HRET has studied collaborative strategies hospitals and public health partners can use in developing surge capacity for public health emergencies. Through this presentation, HRET aims to identify what works when hospitals collaborate with health departments and emergency medical services to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters.

HRET studied eight communities in 6 states, most with previous disaster experience, representing large and small urban and rural communities. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 40 informants in hospitals, public health and EMS at state and community levels. Interview protocols explored public health and hospital planning for surge capacity, resource development, and inter-organizational relationships.

The key findings evolved around the collaborative planning process. Some collaborative planning processes were marked by tensions due to different perspectives of public and private entities or competitive hospital markets. Ensuring consistent planning across sectors was a universal concern that some states addressed through 1) unified health care-public health planning committees, 2) hospital-focused advisory groups to collect and disseminate information and connect public and private activities, or 3) subcontracts to hospital associations for hospital-specific planning and grant deliverables.

There was a universal sense that true preparedness required access to resources and expertise in all sectors. Many reported that planning's true value was not the plans, policies and procedures that resulted, but the process itself because it facilitated communications across organizations and established working relationships through which to build trust, mutual understanding and shared worldviews.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session,
• 1)participants will be able to describe ways in which hospitals are building the public health infrastructure in their communities
• 2)participants will be able to a) identify models of collaborative hospital and public health planning for community emergency response and b) learn important elements of what works in joint hospital-public health response programming.
• 3)identify helpful tools, lessons, and strategies that can be replicated.

Related Web page: www.hret.org

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.