Emergency preparedness training and follow-up: Approaches to improve usefulness

The Veterans Administration's (VA) Office of Public Health (OPH) is committed to preparing for and responding to emergency events, including pandemic influenza outbreaks. In 2007, OPH oversaw the development and execution of comprehensive national pandemic flu tabletop exercises within VA healthcare facilities, regional (VISNs), and central office operations. As follow-up, exploration of how the tabletop After-Action-Reports (AARs) were used in continued planning and preparation for future emerging and outbreak events was conducted using systematic document review, survey, and semi-structured interviews. Survey response rate was 61%. Findings included the need for greater information dissemination after training; for greater process specificity; and that AAR activities can build internal and external relationships that support pandemic response, as demonstrated by the H1N1 response. This session will include a discussion of approaches consistent with enhanced AAR usefulness and pandemic preparedness as well as implications for future standards of practice of AAR purposing and practical follow-through.