Integrating Simulation-Based Exercises into Public Health Emergency Management Curricula

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-781
Author(s):  
Natasha Sanchez Cristal ◽  
Noel Metcalf ◽  
Debra Kreisberg ◽  
Charles M. Little
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Authentic Learning ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
School Of Public Health ◽  
Training Methodologies

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to enrich public health emergency management (PHEM) curricula and increase the workforce readiness of graduates through the implementation of an innovative curriculum structure centered around simulation and the creation of authentic learning experiences into a mastery-based Disaster Preparedness graduate certificate program launched in 2016 at the Colorado School of Public Health. Learners progress through a sequence of increasingly complex discussion and operations-based exercises designed to align with training methodologies used by future employers in the disaster response field, covering PHEM fundamentals and domestic and international disaster preparedness and response. Preliminary feedback is overwhelmingly positive, equating the experience to securing an internship. Embedding simulation-based exercises and authentic learning environments into graduate curricula exposes learners to diverse disaster scenarios, provides occasion for practicing critical thinking and dynamic problem solving, increases familiarity with anticipated emergency situations, and builds the confidence necessary for exercising judgment in a real-world situation. This novel curriculum should serve as a model for graduate programs wishing to enrich traditional training tactics using a typical school of public health support and alignment with community resources. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:777–781)

Role of Academic Institutions in Community Disaster Response Since September 11, 2001

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne L. Dunlop ◽  
Kristi M. Logue ◽  
Gerald Beltran ◽  
Alexander P. Isakov
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
September 11 ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Disaster Resilience ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Disaster Preparedness And Response

ABSTRACTObjective: To describe the role of academic institutions in the community response to Federal Emergency Management Agency–declared disasters from September 11, 2001, to February 1, 2009.Methods: We conducted a review of the published literature and Internet reports to identify academic institutions that participated in the community response to disaster events between September 11, 2001, to February 1, 2009, inclusive. From retrieved reports, we abstracted the identity of the academic institutions and the resources and services each provided. We characterized the resources and services in terms of their contribution to established constructs of community disaster resilience and disaster preparedness and response.Results: Between September 11, 2001, and February 1, 2009, there were 98 published or Internet-accessible reports describing 106 instances in which academic institutions participated in the community response to 11 Federal Emergency Management Agency–declared disaster events that occurred between September 11, 2001, and February 1, 2009. Academic institutions included academic health centers and community teaching hospitals; schools of medicine, nursing, and public health; schools with graduate programs such as engineering and psychology; and 4-year programs. The services and resources provided by the academic institutions as part of the community disaster response could be categorized as contributing to community disaster resilience by reducing the consequences or likelihood of an event or to specific dimensions of public health preparedness and response, or both. The most common dimensions addressed by academic institutions (in order of occurrence) were resource management, enabling and sustaining a public health response, information capacity management, and performance evaluation.Conclusions: Since September 11, 2001, the participation of academic institutions in community disaster response has contributed to community resilience and the achievement of specific dimensions of disaster preparedness and response.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:218–226)

scholarly journals Simulating Complex Community Disaster Preparedness: Collaboration for Point of Distribution

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Rafferty-Semon ◽  
Jeremy Jarzembak ◽  
Jennifer Shanholtzer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing

Disasters are increasing at local, national, and global levels, as is the need for all nurses and communities to be prepared. Since 2003, decreased funds for disaster preparedness has meant less opportunity for public health departments and emergency management agencies to test disaster response plans. Today’s graduating nurses need strong skills in disaster nursing to manage a variety of disasters in a local to global context. One aim of this article is to briefly describe preparedness planning using a Point of Distribution/Dispensation (POD) and teaching competencies for disaster nursing. We discuss in detail an exemplar about a simulation developed with collaboration among university faculty, the county public health department, and the local emergency management agency (EMA). The article considers insufficient funds for drills and exercises; strategies to increase disaster knowledge and competency of undergraduate nursing students; and realistic, hands-on active learning approaches to disaster response at all levels, including implications for practice.

Enhancing Community Disaster Resilience Through Mass Sporting Events

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M. McCarthy ◽  
George T. Chiampas ◽  
Sanjeev Malik ◽  
Kendra Cole ◽  
Patricia Lindeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Federal Emergency Management Agency ◽  
Disaster Resilience ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Complex Action ◽  
Management Agency ◽  
Communication And Coordination

ABSTRACTDisaster response requires rapid, complex action by multiple agencies that may rarely interact during nondisaster periods. Failures in communication and coordination between agencies have been pitfalls in the advancement of disaster preparedness. Recommendations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency address these needs and demonstrate commitment to successful disaster management, but they are challenging for communities to ensure. In this article we describe the application of Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines to the 2008 and 2009 Chicago Marathon and discuss the details of our implementation strategy with a focus on optimizing communication. We believe that it is possible to enhance community disaster preparedness through practical application during mass sporting events.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:310–315)

scholarly journals The Engagement of Academic Institutions in Community Disaster Response: A Comparative Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (6_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne L. Dunlop ◽  
Kristi M. Logue ◽  
Alexander P. Isakov
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Space Shuttle ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Incident Command

Objective. Using comparative analysis, we examined the factors that influence the engagement of academic institutions in community disaster response. Methods. We identified colleges and universities located in counties affected by four Federal Emergency Management Agency-declared disasters (Kentucky ice storms, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, California wildfires, and the Columbia space shuttle disintegration) and performed key informant interviews with officials from public health, emergency management, and academic institutions in those counties. We used a comparative case study approach to explore particular resources provided by academic institutions, processes for engagement, and reasons for engagement or lack thereof in the community disaster response. Results. Academic institutions contribute a broad range of resources to community disaster response. Their involvement and the extent of their engagement is variable and influenced by ( 1) their resources, ( 2) preexisting relationships with public health and emergency management organizations, ( 3) the structure and organizational placement of the school's disaster planning and response office, and ( 4) perceptions of liability and lines of authority. Facilitators of engagement include ( 1) the availability of faculty expertise or special training programs, ( 2) academic staff presence on public health and emergency management planning boards, ( 3) faculty contracts and student practica, ( 4) incident command system or emergency operations training of academic staff, and ( 5) the existence of mutual aid or memoranda of agreements. Conclusion. While a range of relationships exist between academic institutions that engage with public health and emergency management agencies in community disaster response, recurrent win-win themes include co-appointed faculty and staff; field experience opportunities for students; and shared planning and training for academic, public health, and emergency management personnel.

scholarly journals Use of Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) to Rapidly Assess Public Health Issues — United States, 2003-2012

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye M. Bayleyegn ◽  
Amy H. Schnall ◽  
Shimere G. Ballou ◽  
David F. Zane ◽  
Sherry L. Burrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Sampling Methodology ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Public Health Emergency Response

AbstractIntroductionCommunity Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is an epidemiologic technique designed to provide quick, inexpensive, accurate, and reliable household-based public health information about a community’s emergency response needs. The Health Studies Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides in-field assistance and technical support to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) health departments in conducting CASPERs during a disaster response and in non-emergency settings. Data from CASPERs conducted from 2003 through 2012 were reviewed to describe uses of CASPER, ascertain strengths of the CASPER methodology, and highlight significant findings.MethodsThrough an assessment of the CDC’s CASPER metadatabase, all CASPERs that involved CDC support performed in US states and territories from 2003 through 2012 were reviewed and compared descriptively for differences in geographic distribution, sampling methodology, mapping tool, assessment settings, and result and action taken by decision makers.ResultsFor the study period, 53 CASPERs were conducted in 13 states and one US territory. Among the 53 CASPERS, 38 (71.6%) used the traditional 2-stage cluster sampling methodology, 10 (18.8%) used a 3-stage cluster sampling, and two (3.7%) used a simple random sampling methodology. Among the CASPERs, 37 (69.9%) were conducted in response to specific natural or human-induced disasters, including 14 (37.8%) for hurricanes. The remaining 16 (30.1%) CASPERS were conducted in non-disaster settings to assess household preparedness levels or potential effects of a proposed plan or program. The most common recommendations resulting from a disaster-related CASPER were to educate the community on available resources (27; 72.9%) and provide services (18; 48.6%) such as debris removals and refills of medications. In preparedness CASPERs, the most common recommendations were to educate the community in disaster preparedness (5; 31.2%) and to revise or improve preparedness plans (5; 31.2%). Twenty-five (47.1%) CASPERs documented on the report or publications the public health action has taken based on the result or recommendations. Findings from 27 (50.9%) of the CASPERs conducted with CDC assistance were published in peer-reviewed journals or elsewhere.ConclusionThe number of CASPERs conducted with CDC assistance has increased and diversified over the past decade. The CASPERs’ results and recommendations supported the public health decisions that benefitted the community. Overall, the findings suggest that the CASPER is a useful tool for collecting household-level disaster preparedness and response data and generating information to support public health action.BayleyegnTM, SchnallAH, BallouSG, ZaneDF, BurrerSL, NoeRS, WolkinAF. Use of Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) to rapidly assess public health issues — United States, 2003-2012. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(4):1-8.

scholarly journals A meta-modeling framework in public health emergency management

SIMULATION ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 401-419
Author(s):  
Bin Chen ◽  
Peng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Code Generation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Artificial Society ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Meta Modeling ◽  
Emergency Scenarios

Epidemic transmission is a common type of public health emergency that is difficult to forecast and often causes substantial harm. Artificial societal models provide a novel approach to the study of public health problems. However, public health emergency management (PHEM) always involves multi-disciplinary and multi-hierarchical models that complicate the work of modeling. Models are also made more complex by the consideration of new requirements and interactions. Therefore, we propose a domain-specific methodology to guide the modeling process in PHEM. By analyzing domain characteristics and modeling requirements, a meta-modeling framework can be constructed, containing the basic elements with which to construct an artificial society to study epidemic transmission. In this paper, the designs of meta-models are discussed in detail, and domain models are implemented by code generation, which enables the support of large-scale, agent-based computational experiments on the KD-ACP platform. Case studies of Ebola are outlined, emergency scenarios are reconstructed based on pre-designed meta-models, and “scenario-response” experiments are presented. This study provides a valuable framework and methodology with which to study complex social problems in PHEM. The proposed method has been verified effectively and efficiently.

A Review of Competencies Developed for Disaster Healthcare Providers: Limitations of Current Processes and Applicability

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Daily ◽  
Patricia Padjen ◽  
Marvin Birnbaum
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Nursing Competencies

AbstractIntroduction:In order to prepare the healthcare system and healthcare personnel to meet the health needs of populations affected by disasters, educational programs have been developed by numerous academic institutions, hospitals, professional organizations, governments, and non-government organizations. Lacking standards for best practices as a foundation, many organizations and institutions have developed “core competencies” that they consider essential knowledge and skills for disaster healthcare personnel.Problem:The Nursing Section of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) considered the possibility of endorsing an existing set of competencies that could be used to prepare nurses universally to participate in disaster health activities. This study was undertaken for the purpose of reviewing published disaster health competencies to determine commonalities and universal applicability for disaster preparedness.Methods:In 2007, a review of the electronic literature databases was conducted using the major keywords: disaster response competencies; disaster preparedness competencies; emergency response competencies; disaster planning competencies; emergency planning competencies; public health emergency preparedness competencies; disaster nursing competencies; and disaster nursing education competencies. A manual search of references and selected literature from public and private sources also was conducted. Inclusion criteria included: English language; competencies listed or specifically referred to; competencies relevant to disaster, mass-casualty incident (MCI), or public health emergency; and competencies relevant to healthcare.Results:Eighty-six articles were identified; 20 articles failed to meet the initial inclusion criteria; 27 articles did not meet the additional criteria, leaving 39 articles for analysis. Twenty-eight articles described competencies targeted to a specific profession/discipline, while 10 articles described competencies targeted to a defined role or function during a disaster. Four of the articles described specific competencies according to skill level, rather than to a specific role or function. One article defined competencies according to specific roles as well as proficiency levels. Two articles categorized disaster nursing competencies according to the phases of the disaster management continuum. Fourteen articles described specified competencies as “core” competencies for various target groups, while one article described “cross-cutting” competencies applicable to all healthcare workers.Conclusions:Hundreds of competencies for disaster healthcare personnel have been developed and endorsed by governmental and professional organizations and societies. Imprecise and inconsistent terminology and structure are evident throughout the reviewed competency sets. Universal acceptance and application of these competencies are lacking and none have been validated. Further efforts must be directed to developing a framework and standardized terminology for the articulation of competency sets for disaster health professionals that can by accepted and adapted universally.

A comparative study of public‐health emergency management

2009 ◽  
Vol 109 (7) ◽  
pp. 976-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxiang Hu ◽  
Amy Z. Zeng ◽  
Lindu Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Public Health Emergency

Public health emergency management capacity building in Guinea: 2014-2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Lise D. Martel ◽  
Michael Phipps ◽  
Amadou Traore ◽  
Claire J. Standley ◽  
Mohamed L. Soumah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Management Capacity
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