Planning a regional response Planning a regional response to public health emergencies to public health emergencies

Patrick Lenihan, Ph.DPatrick Lenihan, Ph.D. .

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OverviewOverview

a) How regional preparedness efforts are different a) How regional preparedness efforts are different from local readiness initiatives;from local readiness initiatives;

b) How regional structures work to prepare and b) How regional structures work to prepare and respond to public health emergencies;respond to public health emergencies;

c) Capacities that supported a region’s c) Capacities that supported a region’s functioning; and functioning; and

d) What tools are available for regional d) What tools are available for regional preparedness planning? preparedness planning?

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Regional vs. IndividualRegional vs. Individual

The key distinction separating a The key distinction separating a regional approach to preparedness regional approach to preparedness

from the approach taken by a single from the approach taken by a single Local Health Department (LHD) is the Local Health Department (LHD) is the need for coordinated efforts across need for coordinated efforts across

multiple jurisdictions multiple jurisdictions

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Regional vs. IndividualRegional vs. Individual

Regional preparedness is more than Regional preparedness is more than scaled-up individual preparednessscaled-up individual preparedness

Working at a higher level of complexity; Working at a higher level of complexity; not just a wider area of geographynot just a wider area of geography

Regional preparedness more about Regional preparedness more about strategic planning than operational strategic planning than operational planningplanning

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Factors that impact regional Factors that impact regional structure and functionstructure and function

Perception precedes conception: Perception precedes conception: Consider Consider emergency scenariosemergency scenarios

Authority informs type of regional Authority informs type of regional response: response: Regional vs. Individual authorityRegional vs. Individual authority

Efficiency, effectiveness, and/or capacity: Efficiency, effectiveness, and/or capacity: What are the needs of the regionWhat are the needs of the region? ?

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Examples of regional Examples of regional structuresstructures

A mandated existing homeland security/emergency A mandated existing homeland security/emergency management region/or state health department management region/or state health department region in which the authority lies within the region in which the authority lies within the “umbrella” agency.“umbrella” agency.

A formal not-for-profit board structure with a selected A formal not-for-profit board structure with a selected chairperson or president and governing structure;chairperson or president and governing structure;

A more informal coalition, advisory, or taskforce A more informal coalition, advisory, or taskforce structure with key positions in which decisions are structure with key positions in which decisions are made by consensus;made by consensus;

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How regions functionHow regions function

Networking:Networking: Sharing preparedness information (e.g., Sharing preparedness information (e.g.,

recent reports, grant guidance), approaches recent reports, grant guidance), approaches to planning, press releases, exercise results, to planning, press releases, exercise results, or staff organizational charts or staff organizational charts

Coordinating:Coordinating: Conducting joint exercises, trainings, ‘strike’ Conducting joint exercises, trainings, ‘strike’

or response teams, or a regional project such or response teams, or a regional project such as a media campaign. as a media campaign.

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How regions functionHow regions function

Standardizing:Standardizing: Trainings, planning tools, plan content and format Trainings, planning tools, plan content and format

(such as annexes), resource typing, job action (such as annexes), resource typing, job action sheets, and even ‘triage tags’ that emergency sheets, and even ‘triage tags’ that emergency medical services could use throughout the region. medical services could use throughout the region.

Centralizing:Centralizing: Resources such as a single web portal, an Resources such as a single web portal, an

emergency notification system centralized emergency notification system centralized through a regional coordinator, a single regional through a regional coordinator, a single regional training contractor or regional staff (e.g.,GIS training contractor or regional staff (e.g.,GIS specialist). specialist).

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Capacities that Support & Capacities that Support & Challenge Regional FunctioningChallenge Regional Functioning Staff timeStaff time Agency supportAgency support Leadership bodyLeadership body Established regional relationshipsEstablished regional relationships State requirementsState requirements Authority to plan and respondAuthority to plan and respond Relationship with the stateRelationship with the state Resources to sustain regional workResources to sustain regional work

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Project Public Health Ready Project Public Health Ready Helps Improve Regional Helps Improve Regional

PreparednessPreparednessOperated by the National Association of County Operated by the National Association of County

and City Health Officials (NACCHO)and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Provides a template to structure regional Provides a template to structure regional

planningplanning Comprehensive “to do” list in the form of Comprehensive “to do” list in the form of

criteriacriteria Established and tested national frameworkEstablished and tested national framework National Recognition Program National Recognition Program Linked to tools and examplesLinked to tools and examples Network of regional sites for peer assistanceNetwork of regional sites for peer assistance