202167 Clinical decision support for nurses knowledge of restoring public health following a disaster

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:45 AM

Tener Goodwin Veenema, PhD MPH MS CPNP , Human Capital Team, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University, Penfield, NY
Adam B. Rains, MSc , Tener Consulting Group LLC, Penfield, NY
Background & Issues: Nurses responding to the needs of populations affected by disasters require rapid assessment skills and knowledge of the basic tenets of environmental health, methods of health promotion, disease identification, and prevention strategies. All individuals affected by disasters must have their basic physiologic needs met in a timely manner for survival. Description:Evidence-based software for disaster nursing decision making that establishes priorities and restores public health including minimum standards for water, food, sanitation, shelter, and vector control is presented. Recent historical examples of water contamination & its health consequences is proposed. A management matrix for outbreaks of food borne illness is described.

Lessons Learned from recent U.S. disasters: 1.Populations affected by a disaster experience diminished environmental conditions that put them at risk for negative health outcomes.2.Basic physiologic needs must be met in a timely manner to ensure survival.3.The establishment, implementation and continuous monitoring of minimum standards for water safety, food safety, sanitation, shelter, and personal hygiene provides a firm foundation for health promotion.4.Infectious disease outbreaks usually occur in the post-impact and recovery phases of a disaster.5. Clinical decision support software can increase nurses knowledge of diseases endemic to the disaster area.6.The EPA and World Health Organization Guidelines for Food Safety should be used in response planning.7. Working as members of an interdisciplinary disaster response team, nurses must be able to detect environmental changes that can increase the potential for the spread of infectious disease. Recommendations:

Clinical decision support software can provide nurses with the knowledge and skill set needed to participate in restoring public health in a shelter or in a community following a disaster event.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of a clean environment as a foundation for good health. Discuss how to assess risks and resources in the environment in order to meet the basic needs (food, water, shelter, and safety) for survival. Describe the public health role in emergency response. Discuss the major health risks in a population affected by a disaster. Discuss the initiation of water safety measures. Discuss the initiation of wastewater management. Discuss an option for providing sanitation and solid waste removal. Describe the importance of water in vector control in the post-impact phase of a disaster.

Keywords: Disasters, Nurses

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Educational History Ph.D. Health Services Research & Policy School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 2001 M.P.H. Public Health School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 1999 P.N.P. Post Masters Certification Care of Children and Families School of Nursing University of Rochester Rochester, New York December 1993 M.S. Nursing Administration School of Nursing University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 1992 B.S.N. Columbia University School Of Nursing New York, New York May 1980 Educational History Ph.D. Health Services Research & Policy School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 2001 M.P.H. Public Health School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 1999 P.N.P. Post Masters Certification Care of Children and Families School of Nursing University of Rochester Rochester, New York December 1993 M.S. Nursing Administration School of Nursing University of Rochester Rochester, New York May 1992 B.S.N. Columbia University School Of Nursing New York, New York May 1980 Author and Developer: Red Cross ReadyRN Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Nurses. Red Cross ReadyRN is an awareness level curriculum on Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness that was customized to meet the specific needs of the American Red Cross. Red Cross ReadyRN prepares American Red Cross nurses and disaster health services volunteers with the knowledge they need to respond to all types of disasters and emergencies and to keep themselves safe. The course is consistent with the guidelines provided in the National Response Framework and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with the American Red Cross Disaster Health Services Practice Protocols. Published by American Red Cross, National Headquarters, Washington, DC; announced November 2007, published December 2008. Author and Developer: ReadyRN Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Nurses. (June 2007) ReadyRN Curriculum for Disaster Nursing is a comprehensive, customizable disaster nursing and emergency preparedness program for health care organizations, designed to ensure a minimum set of core competencies for all nurses during any type of disaster or public health emergency. The system is consistent with the guidelines provided in the National Response Framework and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and with the current therapeutic recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published by Elsevier/MC Strategies, June 2007. Senior Consultant to the American College of Medical Toxicology Co-Author and Project Lead Chemical Agents of Opportunity: Toxic Industrial Chemicals and Toxic Industrial Metals (May 2007- present) „X Co-wrote curriculum and content for an eight hour seminar (8 modules) on Chemical Agents of Opportunity in conjunction with the American College of Medical Toxicology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) „X Developed business plan and identified strategic community partnerships to support new educational program „X Secured approval for new program from the Department of Homeland Security and the California State Department of Health (with California ATSDR) Developer and Program Director, Leadership in Health Care Systems Masters Degree Program (June 2002-2004) University of Rochester School of Nursing „X Wrote curriculum and content for a thirty-credit interdisciplinary masters degree program in Leadership in Health Care Systems „X Developed business plan and identified strategic community partnerships to support new educational program „X Secured approval for new masters degree program from Provost of University of Rochester and Board of Trustees and approval from New York State Department of Education „X Recruited and hired faculty, implemented and directed new program. „X Developed distance learning component of new masters degree program. „X Lead Faculty 2002-2008 My educational preparation includes master's degrees in Nursing Administration, Pediatrics,Public Health and a PhD in Health Policy and Health Services Research. I am the author of two books on disaster nursing, multiple manuscripts and two national disaster nursing curriculum. I have conducted research on nurses knowlegde and willingness to come to work following a disaster event and I am a subject matter expert on disaster nursing to the National American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
Elsevier/ MC Strategies e-learning programs Consultant

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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