CDC 2010 Haiti Cholera Response: Incident Management System's Policy Unit Challenges & Strategies

The ongoing Haiti Cholera outbreak has received world-wide attention, with over 4,000 deaths and 200,000 cholera cases within the first 90 days. The CDC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) responded with more than 178 staff and $50 million budget as of February 1, 2011. The Policy Unit (PU) within CDC's Incident Management System (IMS) plays a vital role in supporting CDC's Haiti Cholera Response. The IMS-PU uses a Situational Analysis Modeling Framework (SAMF) to address organizational challenges involving staffing, communication, resource allocation, and document clearances. SAMF applies a dynamic Mind Mapping (MM) process tool to capture and organize data for each task.

SAMF was initially developed in 2009 to provide policy support through warehousing data and prioritizing tasks for CDC's response to the AIDS pandemic. This presentation outlines how CDC's IMS-PU uses SAMF to streamline its activities for the Haiti Cholera Response. For example, SAMF is used to develop internal IMS-PU records retrieval procedures under the Freedom of Information Act. These new procedures will include identifying scopes of information, as well as review criteria for collection and redaction of records.

The SAMF encompasses the MM which uses Mindjet® software as a process improvement mechanism to gather and analyze data. The MM applications collectively serve as a universal translator and catalyst to manage data. The SAMF's MM tool standardizes work task data and integrates staff feedback to improve IMS-PU workflow by coordinating IMS-PU clearance with other IMS departments. This coordination enhances decision making for strategic planning in emergency preparedness activities.