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A Strategy for Success. Emily Llinás Kaye Reynolds Kirstin Short. Creating a regional approach to epidemiological practice & response. Greater Houston UASI Health & Medical Committee.
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A Strategy for Success Emily Llinás Kaye Reynolds Kirstin Short Creating a regional approach to epidemiological practice & response
Greater Houston UASI Health & Medical Committee • Comprised of representatives from health care, public health, EMS & emergency management • Promotes intra-jurisdictional, intra-disciplinary planning, training & exercising • Developed and maintain health & medical portions of the Regional UASI Strategy • Prioritizes funding proposals
Houston UASI Strategy Health & Medical Components • Expanded Mass Prophylaxis Capacity • Expanded Medical Surge Capacity • Enhanced Epidemiological Surveillance and investigation capacity
Enhancing epidemiological response capacity • Establishes a Regional Epidemiology Plan • Increases RODs participation by hospitals and LHDs • Provides training to epi and non-epi staff • Includes epi components in regional exercises
RODS Sustainability Project • Expands Real-time Outbreak Disease Surveillance System (RODS) to hospitals and public health departments • Housed by the City of Houston Department of Health & Human Services • Funded by the UASI grant and local funding
Regional Communication & Collaboration Project • Seeks secure communication between regional LRN lab and local health departments • Managed at the City of Houston laboratory • UASI Funding enhanced Cyberlab’s capabilities • Two-way information flow starts in 2012
Regional Epidemiological Response Plan • Establishes regional approach to surveillance & investigation • Developed by Regional Committee with contractor support in 2011 • Funded by the Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant (Ft. Bend County served as fiscal agent) • Plan released in 2012