Updating public health emergency preparedness competencies using needs assessment and training development information

This paper presents an approach to competency development created at the South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness (SCCPHP) to expand and refine existing competency sets for public health emergency responders. The technique uses course content generated by subject matter experts to validate and expand existing national competency sets. New competencies, based in part on local needs, were identified that provide coverage of subject matter appropriate to local public health emergency responders beyond the focus of existing national competency sets. In the research presented, existing public health emergency preparedness competencies are validated against existing training for public health preparedness. Where subject matter expert driven training objectives depart from pre-existing competency sets, new competencies, based on these training objectives, are identified. The new competencies provide coverage of subject matter appropriate to local public health emergency responders beyond the focus of existing national competency sets. Validation evidence is offered in support of this novel technique.