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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Drew Harris, DPM, MPH¹, Concetta Caporrino, CHES¹, Rebecca E. Baron¹, Mitchel Rosen, MS², and Marcia Sass, ScD³. (1) NJ Center for Public Health Preparedness at UMDNJ-School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, P.O. Box 2688, 335 George Street, Room 3700, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 732-235-4980, harrisda@umdnj.edu, (2) Office of Public Health Practice, UMDNJ- School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 07756, (3) School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 48 Trainol Circle, Bordentown, NJ 08505

A dilemma of state or local level leadership training is how to encourage “out of the box” thinking. Training program participants often share a common background and set of experiences and have developed inherent biases that can limit objective thinking. Their knowledge of and comfort with the traditional public health system makes it difficult for them to execute alternative approaches.

This presentation will discuss the creation of a virtual community called “Phlierton,” which was created to provide a “safe haven” for public health leaders to enhance their leadership and planning skills. Based on actual state public health data and existing structures, the Phlierton region consists of six towns that are a diverse amalgam of New Jersey towns and cities representing upper, middle and low income and rural, suburban and urban locales. Census data, public health hazards, chronic disease burden and recent news articles flesh out the profile of Phlierton's six communities. A detailed map of the region complete with the location of critical infrastructure was developed.

Phlierton is a framework for learning and challenging public health leaders. The Public Health Leadership Initiative for Emergency Preparedness (PHLIER) training utilizes Phlierton to enhance the skills and knowledge of today's mid-level management to effectively direct, coordinate, and participate in preparedness and emergency response activities.

Assessment of the verisimilitude model of Phlierton is done through program participants and case presentation respondents. These results will be presented. Phlierton data has the potential for use by others for public health training.

Learning Objectives: After the conclusion of this presentation, the learner will be able to

• Identify data elements of a virtual region to enhance training in public health system performance during a simulated emergency
• Discuss the utility of a virtual community in encouraging out of the box thinking
• Discuss the application of a virtual community to other forms of public health planning.

Keywords: Planning,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 10256.0 kb)