ABSTRACT The Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) at the American... more ABSTRACT The Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) at the American Medical Association (AMA) completed the first of a three year $1.3 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a health security card (HSC) with essential health information to identify individuals and meet immediate health needs in a disaster or public health emergency. The HSC project involves an overarching Participatory Management (PM) approach which is being utilized to guide community-based participatory research, including multi-disciplinary shared decision-making by key organizations. The AMA has engaged a number of partners as Core Collaborators (CC), including federal and public health liaisons, and experts in health information technology and emergency preparedness. The CCs provide broad leadership and input on the development of the HSC project. Their responsibilities are to: (1) identify other key partner organizations and similar projects; (2) report back to senior decision makers in their respective organizations about the project; (3) obtain organizational "buy in" for the project; and (4) nominate and support individuals to serve as active members of Project Advisory Team (PAT) Workgroups. The AMA is responsible for the grant and provides the key staffing. It facilitates the decisions of the CCs and PAT Workgroups. At this point, the HSC CCs have addressed 1) minimum data elements for inclusion; 2) common terminologies for selecting vehicles, modalities and software platforms for the project; and, 3) issues and challenges related to broad acceptance of the HSC product among diverse community populations, especially at-risk populations.
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2015
Recent years have seen advances in theories and models of risk and crisis communication, with a f... more Recent years have seen advances in theories and models of risk and crisis communication, with a focus on emerging epidemic infection. Nevertheless, information flow remains unilateral in many countries and does not take into account the public's polyvocality and the fact that its opinions and knowledge often "compete" with those of health authorities. This article addresses the challenges organizations face in communicating with the public sphere. Our theoretical approach is conceptualized through a framework that focuses on the public sphere and that builds upon existing guidelines and studies in the context of health and pandemics. We examine how health organizations cope with the public's transformation from recipients to an active and vocal entity, ie, how and to what extent health organizations address the public's anxiety and concerns arising in the social media during outbreaks. Although international organizations have aspired to relate to the public as...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2015
This year alone has seen outbreaks of epidemics such as Ebola, Chikungunya, and many other emergi... more This year alone has seen outbreaks of epidemics such as Ebola, Chikungunya, and many other emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). We must look to the responses of recent outbreaks to help guide our strategies in current and future outbreaks or we risk repeating the same mistakes. The objective of this paper was to conduct a systematic literature review of the methodology used by studies that examined EID communication during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic outbreak through different communication channels or by analyzing contents and strategies. This was a systematic review of the literature (n=61) studying risk communication strategies of H1N1 influenza, published between 2009 and 2013, and retrieved from searches of computerized databases, hand searches, and authoritative texts by use of specific search criteria. Searches were followed by review, categorization, and mixed qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Of 41 articles that used quantitative methods, most used surveys (n=35); s...
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2015
Unremitting natural disasters, deliberate threats, pandemics, and humanitarian suffering resultin... more Unremitting natural disasters, deliberate threats, pandemics, and humanitarian suffering resulting from conflict situations necessitate swift and effective response paradigms. The European Union's (EU) increasing visibility as a disaster response enterprise suggests the need not only for financial contribution but also for instituting a coherent disaster response approach and management structure. The DITAC (Disaster Training Curriculum) project identified deficiencies in current responder training approaches and analyzed the characteristics and content required for a new, standardized European course in disaster management and emergencies. Over 35 experts from within and outside the EU representing various organizations and specialties involved in disaster management composed the DITAC Consortium. These experts were also organized into 5 specifically tasked working groups. Extensive literature reviews were conducted to identify requirements and deficiencies and to craft a new training concept based on research trends and lessons learned. A pilot course and program dissemination plan was also developed. The lack of standardization was repeatedly highlighted as a serious deficiency in current disaster training methods, along with gaps in the command, control, and communication levels. A blended and competency-based teaching approach using exercises combined with lectures was recommended to improve intercultural and interdisciplinary integration. The goal of a European disaster management course should be to standardize and enhance intercultural and inter-agency performance across the disaster management cycle. A set of minimal standards and evaluation metrics can be achieved through consensus, education, and training in different units. The core of the training initiative will be a unit that presents a realistic situation "scenario-based training." (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;0:1-11).
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2007
No definitive guidelines have been established in the United States for postexposure immunization... more No definitive guidelines have been established in the United States for postexposure immunization and prophylaxis (PEP) to hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the event of a traumatic explosive event. The American Medical Association's Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response assembled a US-Israeli panel of experts, including representatives from disaster medicine, trauma surgery, occupational health, and infectious disease to determine guidelines for adult and pediatric victims following a traumatic explosive event. The panel reviewed the existing Israeli and United Kingdom protocols, previously published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on occupational and nonoccupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV, before reaching consensus on preliminary guidelines for the United States. These guidelines recommend an age-appropriate dose and schedule for HBV PEP for individuals presenting from the scene with...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2008
Various organizations and universities have developed competencies for health professionals and o... more Various organizations and universities have developed competencies for health professionals and other emergency responders. Little effort has been devoted to the integration of these competencies across health specialties and professions. The American Medical Association Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response convened an expert working group (EWG) to review extant competencies and achieve consensus on an educational framework and competency set from which educators could devise learning objectives and curricula tailored to fit the needs of all health professionals in a disaster. The EWG conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed published literature. In addition, after-action reports from Hurricane Katrina and relevant publications recommended by EWG members and other subject matter experts were reviewed for congruencies and gaps. Consensus was ensured through a 3-stage Delphi process. The EWG process developed a new educational framewo...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2007
Eighteen national organizations, representing medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospital systems, pub... more Eighteen national organizations, representing medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services, have worked together to create a framework for a national and regional disaster response health system that is scalable, multidisciplinary, and seamless, and based on an all-hazards approach. In July 2005 and June 2006 the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA) convened the AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Terrorism Injuries: Information Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) program. As cofacilitators, James J. James, MD, DrPH, MHA, director of the AMA Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, and Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP(E), APHA executive director, met with leaders from 16 national medical, dental, hospital, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services organizations i...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2008
Large-scale catastrophic events typically result in a scarcity of essential medical resources and... more Large-scale catastrophic events typically result in a scarcity of essential medical resources and accordingly necessitate the implementation of triage management policies to minimize preventable morbidity and mortality. Accomplishing this goal requires a reconceptualization of triage as a population-based systemic process that integrates care at all points of interaction between patients and the health care system. This system identifies at minimum 4 orders of contact: first order, the community; second order, prehospital; third order, facility; and fourth order, regional level. Adopting this approach will ensure that disaster response activities will occur in a comprehensive fashion that minimizes the patient care burden at each subsequent order of intervention and reduces the overall need to ration care. The seamless integration of all orders of intervention within this systems-based model of disaster-specific triage, coordinated through health emergency operations centers, can en...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2009
In just 6 months since the isolation of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the world is facing the first influe... more In just 6 months since the isolation of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the world is facing the first influenza pandemic in more than 3 decades, and there remains almost no refuge from human illness. To date, the illness is at most a nuisance for the majority of people, ...
ABSTRACT The Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) at the American... more ABSTRACT The Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (CPHPDR) at the American Medical Association (AMA) completed the first of a three year $1.3 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a health security card (HSC) with essential health information to identify individuals and meet immediate health needs in a disaster or public health emergency. The HSC project involves an overarching Participatory Management (PM) approach which is being utilized to guide community-based participatory research, including multi-disciplinary shared decision-making by key organizations. The AMA has engaged a number of partners as Core Collaborators (CC), including federal and public health liaisons, and experts in health information technology and emergency preparedness. The CCs provide broad leadership and input on the development of the HSC project. Their responsibilities are to: (1) identify other key partner organizations and similar projects; (2) report back to senior decision makers in their respective organizations about the project; (3) obtain organizational "buy in" for the project; and (4) nominate and support individuals to serve as active members of Project Advisory Team (PAT) Workgroups. The AMA is responsible for the grant and provides the key staffing. It facilitates the decisions of the CCs and PAT Workgroups. At this point, the HSC CCs have addressed 1) minimum data elements for inclusion; 2) common terminologies for selecting vehicles, modalities and software platforms for the project; and, 3) issues and challenges related to broad acceptance of the HSC product among diverse community populations, especially at-risk populations.
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2015
Recent years have seen advances in theories and models of risk and crisis communication, with a f... more Recent years have seen advances in theories and models of risk and crisis communication, with a focus on emerging epidemic infection. Nevertheless, information flow remains unilateral in many countries and does not take into account the public's polyvocality and the fact that its opinions and knowledge often "compete" with those of health authorities. This article addresses the challenges organizations face in communicating with the public sphere. Our theoretical approach is conceptualized through a framework that focuses on the public sphere and that builds upon existing guidelines and studies in the context of health and pandemics. We examine how health organizations cope with the public's transformation from recipients to an active and vocal entity, ie, how and to what extent health organizations address the public's anxiety and concerns arising in the social media during outbreaks. Although international organizations have aspired to relate to the public as...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2015
This year alone has seen outbreaks of epidemics such as Ebola, Chikungunya, and many other emergi... more This year alone has seen outbreaks of epidemics such as Ebola, Chikungunya, and many other emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). We must look to the responses of recent outbreaks to help guide our strategies in current and future outbreaks or we risk repeating the same mistakes. The objective of this paper was to conduct a systematic literature review of the methodology used by studies that examined EID communication during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic outbreak through different communication channels or by analyzing contents and strategies. This was a systematic review of the literature (n=61) studying risk communication strategies of H1N1 influenza, published between 2009 and 2013, and retrieved from searches of computerized databases, hand searches, and authoritative texts by use of specific search criteria. Searches were followed by review, categorization, and mixed qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Of 41 articles that used quantitative methods, most used surveys (n=35); s...
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2015
Unremitting natural disasters, deliberate threats, pandemics, and humanitarian suffering resultin... more Unremitting natural disasters, deliberate threats, pandemics, and humanitarian suffering resulting from conflict situations necessitate swift and effective response paradigms. The European Union's (EU) increasing visibility as a disaster response enterprise suggests the need not only for financial contribution but also for instituting a coherent disaster response approach and management structure. The DITAC (Disaster Training Curriculum) project identified deficiencies in current responder training approaches and analyzed the characteristics and content required for a new, standardized European course in disaster management and emergencies. Over 35 experts from within and outside the EU representing various organizations and specialties involved in disaster management composed the DITAC Consortium. These experts were also organized into 5 specifically tasked working groups. Extensive literature reviews were conducted to identify requirements and deficiencies and to craft a new training concept based on research trends and lessons learned. A pilot course and program dissemination plan was also developed. The lack of standardization was repeatedly highlighted as a serious deficiency in current disaster training methods, along with gaps in the command, control, and communication levels. A blended and competency-based teaching approach using exercises combined with lectures was recommended to improve intercultural and interdisciplinary integration. The goal of a European disaster management course should be to standardize and enhance intercultural and inter-agency performance across the disaster management cycle. A set of minimal standards and evaluation metrics can be achieved through consensus, education, and training in different units. The core of the training initiative will be a unit that presents a realistic situation "scenario-based training." (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;0:1-11).
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2007
No definitive guidelines have been established in the United States for postexposure immunization... more No definitive guidelines have been established in the United States for postexposure immunization and prophylaxis (PEP) to hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the event of a traumatic explosive event. The American Medical Association's Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response assembled a US-Israeli panel of experts, including representatives from disaster medicine, trauma surgery, occupational health, and infectious disease to determine guidelines for adult and pediatric victims following a traumatic explosive event. The panel reviewed the existing Israeli and United Kingdom protocols, previously published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on occupational and nonoccupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV, before reaching consensus on preliminary guidelines for the United States. These guidelines recommend an age-appropriate dose and schedule for HBV PEP for individuals presenting from the scene with...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2008
Various organizations and universities have developed competencies for health professionals and o... more Various organizations and universities have developed competencies for health professionals and other emergency responders. Little effort has been devoted to the integration of these competencies across health specialties and professions. The American Medical Association Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response convened an expert working group (EWG) to review extant competencies and achieve consensus on an educational framework and competency set from which educators could devise learning objectives and curricula tailored to fit the needs of all health professionals in a disaster. The EWG conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed published literature. In addition, after-action reports from Hurricane Katrina and relevant publications recommended by EWG members and other subject matter experts were reviewed for congruencies and gaps. Consensus was ensured through a 3-stage Delphi process. The EWG process developed a new educational framewo...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2007
Eighteen national organizations, representing medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospital systems, pub... more Eighteen national organizations, representing medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services, have worked together to create a framework for a national and regional disaster response health system that is scalable, multidisciplinary, and seamless, and based on an all-hazards approach. In July 2005 and June 2006 the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA) convened the AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Terrorism Injuries: Information Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) program. As cofacilitators, James J. James, MD, DrPH, MHA, director of the AMA Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, and Georges Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP(E), APHA executive director, met with leaders from 16 national medical, dental, hospital, nursing, hospital systems, public health, and emergency medical services organizations i...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2008
Large-scale catastrophic events typically result in a scarcity of essential medical resources and... more Large-scale catastrophic events typically result in a scarcity of essential medical resources and accordingly necessitate the implementation of triage management policies to minimize preventable morbidity and mortality. Accomplishing this goal requires a reconceptualization of triage as a population-based systemic process that integrates care at all points of interaction between patients and the health care system. This system identifies at minimum 4 orders of contact: first order, the community; second order, prehospital; third order, facility; and fourth order, regional level. Adopting this approach will ensure that disaster response activities will occur in a comprehensive fashion that minimizes the patient care burden at each subsequent order of intervention and reduces the overall need to ration care. The seamless integration of all orders of intervention within this systems-based model of disaster-specific triage, coordinated through health emergency operations centers, can en...
Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 2009
In just 6 months since the isolation of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the world is facing the first influe... more In just 6 months since the isolation of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the world is facing the first influenza pandemic in more than 3 decades, and there remains almost no refuge from human illness. To date, the illness is at most a nuisance for the majority of people, ...
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