Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jerod M. Loeb, PhD, Barbara I. Braun, PhD, Nicole V. Wineman, MA, MPH, MBA, Nicole Finn, MA, and Stephen Schmaltz, PhD. Division of Research, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, One Renaissance Blvd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181, 630-792-5920, jloeb@jcaho.org

Purpose: To determine the extent to which health center involvement in community planning differs from hospitals. Methods: Separate mailed questionnaires were utilized to assess linkage issues in a random sample of general hospitals and all HRSA-funded health centers in early 2004 and 2005, respectively. Results: 593 (34%) hospitals and 307 (34%) of health centers responded. While 80% of hospitals participated in community-wide training and 93% in drills, only 31% of health centers participated in training and 25% in drills. Just 27% of hospitals and 7% of health centers were involved in community exercising of the Strategic National Stockpile. Sixty-two percent of hospitals but only 19% of health centers reported that the community plan addressed need for additional supplies and equipment during an emergency. A far greater number of hospitals (75%) than health centers (29%) reported receiving federal/local funds to support emergency preparedness activities. Surprisingly similar proportions of hospitals (46%) and health centers (41%) reported responding to an actual or potential emergency in their community. Better integration was associated with several demographic and risk factors. Conclusions: Comprehensive community planning is essential to successful response to any emergency. Although involvement in responding to actual or suspected events in the community is nearly as common for health centers as for hospitals, health centers are not as well integrated in community planning. Reports from Hurricane Katrina suggest that health centers provided essential care and services to many. Opportunities for integrating hospital and health center capabilities are numerous and could substantially increase resources for response.

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 comprehensive planning in overall community emergency preparedness; and
• Apply findings and conclusions of the study to begin to evaluate linkages in their community.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Community Health Centers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No