141st APHA Annual Meeting

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282781
Opportunities for augmenting regional preparedness through healthcare coalitions

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Lauren Walsh, MPH , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, MD
Kenneth Schor, DO, MPH , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, MD
Kandra Strauss-Riggs, MPH , NCDMPH, Rockville, MD
Brian Altman, PhD , NCDMPH, Rockville, MD
A healthcare coalition (HCC) is a collaborative group in which various health-related organizations work together on issues that affect one another and their shared community. Because HCCs are comprised of a wide variety of health professions and organizations, they are logical entry points for shared learning among individuals with a common mission. Due in part to the Hospital Preparedness Program funding offered by the US Department of Health and Human Services, many – but not all – healthcare coalitions focus on disaster preparedness. In Spring 2013, a pilot study was conducted to identify opportunities for improved education and training of disaster health concepts through both federally and non-federally funded healthcare coalitions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine leaders of established HCCs in the United States. The study described each of the HCCs' disaster preparedness capabilities, provided education and training within the coalition, possibilities for improved education and training, the perceived ability to transition from daily to disaster mode, gaps and needs in staff education, and promising practices.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using healthcare coalitions to educate a diverse set of health professionals regarding disaster concepts. Describe successful approaches to implementing education and training of staff within a healthcare coalition. Identify perceived “priority” areas of disaster preparedness learning within healthcare coalitions and potential ways to address these learning needs.

Keywords: Disasters, Coalition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in disaster research and education for 5 years. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, I am in charge of the design, implementation, and analysis of this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.