Public health preparedness has increased in the last year, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the report, Public Health Preparedness: 2011 State-by-State Update on Laboratory Capabilities and Response Readiness Planning, health departments as a group improved in several areas. Despite the progress, the labs reported facing financial challenges that were requiring administrators to invest carefully in capability improvements.
“This report documents that the U.S. continues to make progress around public health preparedness and response,” said Dr. Ali Khan, director of the CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, in a statement. “It also recognizes the challenges state and local health departments have to maintain the progress achieved. These can include an evolving list of health threats to the continuing economic crisis that could impact the ability to protect the health of communities.”
This report is one of many sources the CDC uses to evaluate the performance of public health departments and make adjustments to the technical assistance it provides, Khan said in an e-mail.
Key findings in the report deal with labs involved with the detection of chemical and biological agents as part of the Laboratory Response Network, a group of 150 labs operated by federal, state and local agencies charged with protecting public health. Among the labs evaluated were the most-advanced Level 1 chemical laboratories. According to the CDC, Level 1 labs have the capability to rapidly detect a wide range of toxic substances, including toxic metals, chemicals and nerve agents.
In 2010, laboratories improved their capabilities to detect illness-causing bacteria in addition to the speed with which they processed samples. The average number of detection methods available to labs in 2010 increased from 6.7 in 2009 to 8.9 in 2010. The number of states that submitted at least 90 percent of E. coli test results to a CDC database within four working days of receiving the samples increased from 29 in 2008 to 38 in 2010. In addition, Level 1 chemical laboratories reduced the amount of time needed to process and report on samples during the last Laboratory Response Network Surge Capacity Exercise by 40 percent.
Laboratories’ challenges to maintaining preparedness levels included continuing budget cuts at state and federal levels, work force shortages and an ever-evolving list of public health threats.
According to the report, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to release a single 2012 funding announcement that is expected to reduce program costs and burdens on state and local health departments.
In March 2011, the CDC released a set of standards to help state and local health departments identify gaps, determine priorities and sustain capabilities. In addition, a new capabilities-based framework includes 15 public health preparedness capabilities that align with the National Health Security Strategy and other preparedness priorities. The two-tiered list includes: laboratory testing, community preparedness, public warning and distribution of medical countermeasures.
“We are also in the early stages of developing a Health Preparedness Index, intended to measure public health preparedness, as well as potentially other areas critical to national health security (e.g., medical care and community systems),” Khan said via e-mail. “Much of the measurement work that is ongoing for the 15 public health preparedness capabilities will provide a foundation for the Index.”
CDC Report Shows Improvement in Health Preparedness Despite Challenges
By: Corey McKenna on October 04, 2011
Photo courtesy of Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA
You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.emergencymgmt.com/health/Report-Shows-Improvement-Health-Preparedness.html
Featured Articles
Latest Blog Posts 
Interdependencies as an AdvantageMay 21 A National Strategic Narrative has given me a new perspective.…
Cloud Computing and Emergency Management The Family CloudMay 21 If a family can protect anything that can be converted to digital media in a cloud, wouldn't that make disaster recovery a lot easier?…
Emergency Management Papers
Message Mapping: How to Communicate During the Six Stages of a Crisis
For more educational papers about best practices and trends in emergency management visit our full library
Emergency Management News in Your Inbox
Subscribe to Emergency Management
Emergency Management is the award-winning, all-hazards publication of record for emergency management, public safety and homeland security stakeholders.
Subscribe | View Digital Issues