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Everything You Need to Know ... and More. Using Tabletop Exercises. Carl Osaki, MSPH, RS Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, Clinical Associate Professor Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, SPHCM, University of Washington. Objectives.
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Everything You Need to Know ... and More Using Tabletop Exercises Carl Osaki, MSPH, RSNorthwest Center for Public Health Practice, Clinical Associate ProfessorDepartment of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences,SPHCM, University of Washington
Objectives • Describe the value and use of tabletop exercises to prepare for public health emergencies • List 10 suggestions for conducting or facilitating a successful tabletop exercise • Discuss how to evaluate your agency’s readiness for conducting a tabletop exercise
Overview • Define a tabletop exercise • Describe the purpose and objectives of tabletops • Discuss who uses tabletops and why • Describe issues typically raised through tabletops • Discuss how to consider appropriate tabletops and where to find them • Suggest issues to consider in designing or conducting your own tabletop
Poll: Your Experiences I Have you participated in a tabletop exercise? Yes No Enter your answer in the feedback poll (on left side of screen) If yes, tell us over the phone: What was the most significant problem you experienced as a participant in the process?
Your Experiences II Have you facilitated a tabletop exercise? Yes No If yes, type your answer into the text chat window: What was your most significant challenge in facilitating the tabletop?
What is a Tabletop? • Hypothetical scenario (story) depicting a large-scale public health emergency • A facilitator leads the group (players) in identifying responses to a series of incidents in the scenario • Low stress, no right or wrong answer • Examines the adequacy of the plans, policies and procedures in place • (e.g., gaps, duplications, confusion, and the key decision makers’ understanding of the plans) • Debriefing to discuss next steps
Types of Tabletops Basic: players respond to scenario as it unfolds, can be a mix of different disciplines, not necessarily key decision makers. More oriented to learning, rather than evaluation of current system Advanced: players in own role as defined by the emergency response plan; typically those that would be involved in decision making; identifies gaps, inconsistencies, or duplications in policies, plans, or procedures
Who Uses Tabletops in Public Health? • PH Agencies(local, state, tribal) • Schools/PH Institutes(summer institutes, classroom) • Local emergency response agencies • Professional disciplines(MDs, nurses, veterinarians, environmental health specialists, epidemiologists, etc)
What are Typical Tabletop Objectives? • Identify the policy issues associated with a public heath emergency • Identify gaps in local preparedness • Discuss measures that can be performed at the local level • Promote interagency collaboration & coordination • Recognize the roles of public officials • Identify training needs • Demonstrate a teaching tool • Evaluate self-reported assessment
Putting Tabletops in Context Discussion-based exercises • Orientation • Tabletop Operation-based exercises • Drill • Functional • Full-Scale
Where Do I Find Tabletops? • NWCPHP • PH Preparedness Training Centers • Private firms • ASPH • NACCHO
Your Experiences III Have you designed a tabletop exercise? Yes No If yes, tell us over the phone: What resources/tools did you use to help design the tabletop?
How Do I Design My Own Tabletop? • NW Center BT Tabletop with instructions • Homeland Security Web site • NACCHO BT Create • Time to design: (20 to 40 hours)
What issues are raised through tabletops? • Communication(vertical, horizontal, news media) • Resources (manpower, material, technical assistance) • Data (collection, analysis, mgmt, communicating) • Coordination (chain of command, leadership) • Legal (medical, criminal, quarantine, confidentiality) • Systems(interagency protocols, surveillance, ICS) • Mental health (public fears, responders – stress)
Successful Tabletops Facilitator Audience Burn-out Materials Reality Jargon Recorder Debriefing Group size Group composition Top 10 Things to Consider:
How do I determine the success of a tabletop? • Evaluation through debriefing • The exercise (objectives met) • The preparedness plan (policies identified, in place, and practiced) • After-Action Report • Development of work plan
Q & A Questions? Comments?