Oral

During this session, four local public health officials from a regional preparedness coalition (Massachusetts Public Health Preparedness Region 4b) will describe and discuss a cost-effective exercise program that has made a meaningful difference in regional readiness. Each panelist will describe how partnering to provide a basic public health service, annual influenza vaccination, in an exercise format has developed workforce competency, service accessibility, enhanced communication and training plans, and aided in identifying and resolving policy issues critical to effective resource pooling for emergency mass prophylaxis services.

Session Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1) Identify policy issues that impact the effectiveness of resource pooling during a multi-jurisdictional mass prophylaxis operation; 2) Identify strategies for developing an effective, cost-efficient, and sustainable full-scale exercise program for mass prophylaxis operational readiness; 3) Identify strategies for exercising and evaluating public communication, volunteer management, pre-event and just-in-time training plans; and 4) Recognize the value of both developing the skills of the public health workforce, including volunteers, and providing a highly visible public health service.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing