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Public Health Preparedness

Public Health Preparedness. Summer Institute for Public Health Practice August 4, 2003. Tools for the Frontline – A National Perspective Mary C. Selecky, Secretary of Health ASTHO President. The Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of people in Washington state.

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Public Health Preparedness

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  1. Public Health Preparedness Summer Institute for Public Health Practice August 4, 2003

  2. Tools for the Frontline – A National PerspectiveMary C. Selecky, Secretary of HealthASTHO President

  3. The Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of people in Washington state.

  4. Main Jobs of a Public Health System • Disease prevention • Protection from environmental hazard • Injury prevention • Promotion of healthy behaviors • Disaster response • Health services access

  5. Bioterrorism Emergency Preparedness

  6. THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK • Local and state partners: • local health jurisdictions (county and regional) • state health department • state board of health • school of public health (University of Washington) • other state agencies (Ecology, Social & Health Services, etc.)

  7. THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK • National partners: • US Department of Health and Human Services • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  8. Everyday Public Health Practice • WEST NILE VIRUS • E. COLI • CHOLERA • SALMONELLA

  9. Prepare for High Risk Agents • PLAGUE • ANTHRAX • BOTULISM • SMALLPOX • VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS • TULAREMIA

  10. TOPOFF 2 - Seattle • Immediate information needed • Some detailed • Some sound bites

  11. Emergency preparedness • Federal funding • Emergency management system • Preparation • Commitment to extinguishing the threats to our health

  12. ASTHO Preparedness Project • ASTHO – Association of State and Territorial Health Officials • Develop and recommend ASTHO policy positions • Identify and promote optimal training of state public health workforce • Promote communication and information sharing among state health agencies

  13. ASTHO Preparedness Project • Identify and promote opportunities for enhanced communication and information sharing • Promote collaboration among state health agencies and non-governmental entities • Monitor and analyze emerging federal legislative proposals

  14. Community Coordination • Partnerships between public health and: • Clinicians and health care facilities • Law enforcement • Public safety: fire, HAZMAT • Emergency management • EMS-Emergency Medical Services • Coordinate response across agencies at the local, state, and federal levels

  15. RESOURCES: www.astho.org • Web casts: Keeping your Head in a Crisis - Responding to the Communication Challenges Posed by Bioterrorism • ASTHO Risk Communication Workbook • Preparedness Assessment Tools • Bioterrorism: State Performance Standards

  16. National Responders • Health and Human Services (HHS) • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • Department of Homeland Security • FBI • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Department of Agriculture • Department of Defense

  17. Health care providers and facilities Local and state health departments Emergency management agencies Search and Rescue, EMS, and HAZMAT teams Law enforcement, National Guard Political leaders Community service organizations Volunteers State and Local Responders

  18. 9-11 Lessons Learned • Consistent messages • Establish roles • Establish relationships

  19. Lessons Learned • Credible threats • How to handle suspicious packages

  20. Educating the Public • Language and cultural issues • Consistency and accuracy • Fast facts • Media relations

  21. “Bioterrorism pales beside what nature can do. There are thousands of viruses out there ready to move into a new host as we compress the world.” - Robert Webster, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital U.S. News & World Report, June 23, 2003

  22. SARS Experience: State and Local Implications

  23. Epidemic in the Global Village • Bioterrorism preparedness funding • Great progress to enhance public health capacity, more needs to be done • All levels – international, federal, state, local – worked cooperatively • Obstacle: Serious workforce shortage

  24. Welcome to Washington • International trade • International border • International travelers – many from Asia • Asian and Pacific Islander population – 11% Seattle-area, 5.5% statewide

  25. Multiple pathways • NORTH: British Columbia, Canada • WEST: Puget Sound seaports • SOUTH: Columbia River seaports • Major airports • Military bases

  26. A Washington port experience Port of Tacoma Washington State Department of Ecology

  27. Emergency PreparednessFOCUS AREAS 1. Planning And Emergency Response 2. Surveillance And Epidemiology 3. Lab Capacity 4. Secure I.T. Systems / Health Alert Network 5. Communications 6. Education / Training

  28. Public health requirements • Long-term commitment • Flexibility in federal model • Partnerships

  29. Answers to your questions www.doh.wa.gov mary.selecky@doh.wa.gov

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