Mission Statement
To protect the general public from the growing specter of acts of terrorism and new emerging diseases through planning, detection, communication, response, public information and training.
Planning
To join with what has been typically identified as “first responders” ( law enforcement, fire and EMS) along with other newly identified “community responders” to develop, implement, test, evaluate, and modify community based “all hazards” planning so that natural and/or man-made disasters can be more effectively responded to.
A common thread message among all these historically recognized partners as well as those who are just now being recognized is the identified need to educate the general public about the need for everyone to develop plans and resources necessary to support their basic needs for at least 72 hours if a natural and/or man-made disaster was to strike.
Detection
To strengthen, and/or create new methods to identify the presence of disease, whether naturally occurring or intentionally introduced as an act of terrorism. While public health still continues to enhance its ability to detect the presence of chemical and radiological hazards, disease, more commonly referred to as biological threats, still continues to be elusive to detection by technological means. To better counter this inability, public health has been required to renew efforts to improve and/or develop better methods to monitor the health of the general public to more rapidly recognize the potential presence of a disease outbreak, whether naturally occurring or introduced as an act of terrorism.
Communication
To enhance communication with our “community partners” and the general public by the creation of redundant robust methods of communication to achieve the following two goals:
Health Alert Network
A multi-facetted system established to receive and/or generate critical information related to the health of the general public and to rapidly disseminate that information to the appropriate “community partners” so that such information can be effectively responded to if deemed necessary.Public Information
To develop a system using traditional media resources and/or other methods to rapidly and effectively provide accurate, appropriate, and timely information to the general public on issues related to public health. In the event of a public health emergency, this system can be used when necessary to deliver emergency notification, instructions, and information in a timely manner so that the general public is better enabled to make appropriate decisions and take needed actions to protect their health and safety as well as their families.
Response
To work in conjunction and cooperation with our “community partners” to develop and/or enhance systems or methods to respond to possible public health emergencies whether natural in occurrence or the result potential acts of terrorism. There are numerous ways in which public health contributes to the over all response to these potential situations, but two of the most significant ones are as follows:
Strategic National Stockpile
and/or Vendor Managed Inventory
Public Health in conjunction with State and Federal agencies continues to develop flexible systems designed to rapidly vaccinated and/or provide drug therapies to emergency response personnel and the general public in response to a natural and/or man made disaster, including potential acts of terrorism. Potential responses include, if necessary, accessing specially created stockpiles of vaccines, medications and/or other specialized medical equipment and supplies to supplement locally available resources. In addition to accessing these supplies, this system includes the development of sites and resources to supplement pre-existing healthcare delivery points to assist in the rapid vaccination/medication of the general public.With the addition of this enhanced capacity it is hoped that necessary actions can be taken in a timely enough manner to eliminate and/or significantly reduce the effects of a disease outbreak, either accidental or intentional, as well as alleviating the over loading of existing healthcare services thus allowing them to care those who are actually critically ill and/or injured. In dealing with instances of disease outbreak, either accidental or intentional in nature, time is such a critical factor that it is imperative that adequate capacity is available to care for large portions of the general public who might be dispersed over large geographic areas in as little as 48 hours.
Development of Additional Surge Capacity
Public health in conjunction/cooperation with hospitals, healthcare providers, and other organizations are working together to develop “surge” capacity plans to, if necessary, to enhance hospitals ability to house and care for additional large numbers victims as a result of natural and/or manmade disasters, including potential acts of terrorism. This is called “surge” capacity because this additional ability will beyond what is normally recognized as a facilities 100% capacity.
Training
To work with local healthcare providers, “Community Partners”, and within Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department to provide training related to the recognition of certain diseases not normally found within the general population, appropriate methods to manage outbreaks of such diseases, and necessary actions to effectively protect healthcare and other responders from exposure to such diseases. In addition, provide subject matter training to our “Community Partners” as well as other organizations and the general public related to terrorism and public health.