A Multi-State Comparison of Local Public Health Preparedness Assessment Using a Common, Standardized Tool

The project described in this report was conducted by three public health institutes that were actively involved in their respective states in conducting local capacity assessments using the CDC capacity inventory. The assessments were performed independently in Michigan, Illinois, and Kansas before the start of the current project. Kansas and Illinois used different scoring algorithms to evaluate the results of their surveys, while Michigan used frequency reports. For this project the information collected in the three states was re-analyzed using both the Kansas and Illinois algorithms, and the scores achieved by the states under each scoring system were compared. The use of standardized tools and scoring methods allows comparisons of results across jurisdictions or for the same jurisdiction at multiple points in time, as well as comparisons of results against benchmarks and national standards, if those exist. Using common assessment tools also allows the pooling of data from multiple jurisdictions to perform analyses on larger samples. An important finding from this project was that even an imperfect tool like the capacity inventory used by the three states can produce valuable results. The project's results suggest a great need for the quick adoption of national performance standards, assessment instruments, and scoring methods that can be used productively and immediately and improved based on experience and evidence acquired over time. The wealth of information that state and local jurisdictions have accumulated through the use of various assessment instruments should not be lost in the transition to the new national standards.