|
|
|
|
PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES
In response to the ESF-8 call to action, Public Health - Seattle & King County (Public Health) established the following priorities for proposing the development of a local Healthcare Coalition to its local healthcare organizations:
- Create more effective structures and processes to strengthen public-private partnerships
- Strengthen the healthcare system's emergency preparedness and response capability to all hazards
- Increase medical surge capacity and capability
- Improve coordination and communication among healthcare providers during emergency response
King County Healthcare Coalition
PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE FUNDAMENTALS
The National Response Plan, developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), outlines a comprehensive approach for federal, state, local, tribal and other agencies to work together to manage domestic incidents. At the federal level Emergency Support Function 8 - Public Health and Medical Services (ESF-8) of the National Response Plan assigns responsibility of coordination to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and at the state and local level this falls to State Departments of Health and local Public Health respectively.
The purpose of ESF-8 is to provide organization, mobilization, and coordination of health and medical services during and following an emergency or disaster. It includes the assessment of public health/medical needs (including behavioral health); public health surveillance; medical care personnel; and medical equipment and supplies.
Public Health collaborates with the members of the Healthcare Coalition, EMS the Medical Examiner and other critical partners to ensure that the objectives of ESF-8 are met.
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Healthcare coalition work should be consistent with local, state and federal planning requirements and priorities so planning and response work is coordinated.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) give health jurisdictions across the nation standardized planning and management guidelines to prepare, respond and recover from domestic emergency incidents. These systems offer a unified approach to incident management among all response organizations.
In order for a Healthcare Coalition to develop a response structure that reflects ICS and integrates with regional response as well as incorporate elements of NIMS implementation, healthcare organizations are required to execute NIMS implementation activities. Implementation activities may vary upon the category of healthcare organization and can include:
THE NEED FOR A HEALTHCARE COALITION
Although many healthcare organizations have developed emergency plans, it is likely that gaps in coordination exist in many jurisdictions. Some identified gaps include:
PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE FUNDAMENTALS
The National Response Plan, developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), outlines a comprehensive approach for federal, state, local, tribal and other agencies to work together to manage domestic incidents. At the federal level Emergency Support Function 8 - Public Health and Medical Services (ESF-8) of the National Response Plan assigns responsibility of coordination to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and at the state and local level this falls to State Departments of Health and local Public Health respectively.
The purpose of ESF-8 is to provide organization, mobilization, and coordination of health and medical services during and following an emergency or disaster. It includes the assessment of public health/medical needs (including behavioral health); public health surveillance; medical care personnel; and medical equipment and supplies.
Public Health collaborates with the members of the Healthcare Coalition, EMS the Medical Examiner and other critical partners to ensure that the objectives of ESF-8 are met.
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Healthcare coalition work should be consistent with local, state and federal planning requirements and priorities so planning and response work is coordinated.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) give health jurisdictions across the nation standardized planning and management guidelines to prepare, respond and recover from domestic emergency incidents. These systems offer a unified approach to incident management among all response organizations.
In order for a Healthcare Coalition to develop a response structure that reflects ICS and integrates with regional response as well as incorporate elements of NIMS implementation, healthcare organizations are required to execute NIMS implementation activities. Implementation activities may vary upon the category of healthcare organization and can include:
- Organizational Adoption
- Command and Management
- Preparedness Planning
- Preparedness Training
- Preparedness Exercises
- Resource Management
- Communication and Information Management
THE NEED FOR A HEALTHCARE COALITION
Although many healthcare organizations have developed emergency plans, it is likely that gaps in coordination exist in many jurisdictions. Some identified gaps include:
- The healthcare market is made up of private and public organizations that are often not coordinating across organizational and service boundaries.
- Individual planning is necessary but not sufficient for robust community-wide healthcare emergency response
- Due to the fact the healthcare system runs on a just in time model the development of surge plans to handle increased demand from the public becomes a huge challenge
- There may be no existing forum for public officials and healthcare leaders to discuss policy issues
- In an emergency, there may be no operational mechanism in place to coordinate response activities across healthcare organizations
- The link between the overall healthcare system and the emergency incident command structure may not exist or be strong enough
- Emergency preparedness planning may have focused primarily on hospitals and not been inclusive of other healthcare service organizations
- Support more effective communications and coordination
- Engage a broad array of health care organizations in emergency preparedness efforts
- Lead community-wide planning and response
- Establish effective public-private partnerships across jurisdictions
- Clearly define authorities & accountabilities, roles & responsibilities
- Effectively respond to a major health emergency
