Surveying Local Health Departments and County Emergency Management Offices on Cooling Centers as a Heat Adaptation Resource in New York State

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seema G. Nayak ◽  
Shao Lin ◽  
Scott C. Sheridan ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Nathan Graber ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110654
Author(s):  
Renata Schiavo ◽  
Mayela Arana ◽  
Nicole Levy ◽  
Yesenia Grijalva ◽  
Sarah Ravenhall ◽  
...  

Capacity building and training help empower the community and population health organizations to partner with local health departments and collaboratively design multisectoral interventions that account for the complexity of public health and health promotion challenges in the era of COVID-19 and beyond. Ideally, training programs should be informed by an understanding of the needs and priorities of the professionals for whom they are intended. This brief report focuses on the results of a pilot online survey conducted as part of a larger pilot study by the New York State Association of County Health Officials and the Region 2 Public Health Training Center among population and community health professionals (n = 27) from four counties in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey participants included a diverse group of staff members from various large and small nonprofit organizations, federally qualified health centers, academic institutions, hospitals, and insurers. Survey findings provide preliminary insights into the extent to which these organizations have been involved in the COVID-19 response in partnership with LHDs, barriers they faced in responding to the needs of the populations they serve and adjusting their work routines/operations to COVID-19 guidelines, and their top emerging organizational and training needs. Lessons learned from conducting an online survey during a public health emergency and implications for future training interventions for population and community health professionals are also discussed within the context of promoting multisectoral collaboration with local health departments, solving complex public health problems, and advancing health equity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asante Shipp Hilts ◽  
Stephanie Mack ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
Guthrie S. Birkhead

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to conduct interviews with public health staff who responded to Hurricane Sandy and to analyze their feedback to assess response strengths and challenges and recommend improvements for future disaster preparedness and response.MethodsQualitative analysis was conducted of information from individual confidential interviews with 35 staff from 3 local health departments in New York State (NYS) impacted by Hurricane Sandy and the NYS Department of Health. Staff were asked about their experiences during Hurricane Sandy and their recommendations for improvements. Open coding was used to analyze interview transcripts for reoccurring themes, which were labeled as strengths, challenges, or recommendations and then categorized into public health preparedness capabilities.ResultsThe most commonly cited strengths, challenges, and recommendations related to the Hurricane Sandy public health response in NYS were within the emergency operations coordination preparedness capability, which includes the abilities of health department staff to partner among government agencies, coordinate with emergency operation centers, conduct routine conference calls with partners, and manage resources.ConclusionsHealth departments should ensure that emergency planning includes protocols to coordinate backup staffing, delineation of services that can be halted during disasters, clear guidelines to coordinate resources across agencies, and training for transitioning into unfamiliar disaster response roles. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:443–453)


2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Paris Nourmohammadi, JD ◽  
Brigid Ryan, JD

On June 11, 2009, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the phase of alert in the Global Influenza Plan from level five to level six. The cause for this was the H1N1 virus which had already affected several countries. A level five alert is declared when more than one country in a single WHO geographic region is affected by the same virus. A level six declaration means that community outbreaks are occurring in at least two WHO geographic regions. Once such a declaration is made, little time remains before mitigation efforts must be planned and communicated to the public. In the wake of the WHO declaration, policy makers are clamoring for adequate disease mitigation strategies. Some health departments intend to require employees to wear personal protective equipment while on the job. Other state health departments are encouraging employees to stay home sick if they think they might have the flu. The New York State Health Department has issued an order requiring all healthcare workers to be vaccinated for H1N1 or risk being terminated. This article will explore the New York State policy and make recommendations to policy makers about how to prevent the spread of H1N1.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Nguh, PhD, MSN, MHSA, RN

Ever since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the federal government increased funding for emergency preparedness. However, the literature continues to document several areas of weaknesses in public health emergency management by local health departments (LHD). This literature review discusses the role of information technology (IT) for emergency preparedness by LHDs. The focus areas for this review include evaluating the strategic management of IT by LHD, evaluation of the adoption and implementation of IT in emergency management, and assessing LHD's capacity and capability for emergency preparedness. Findings reveal that LHDs face significant challenges in the utilization of IT for emergency preparedness purposes such as weak capacity and capabilities, lack of structured planning and program implementation, and limited resources. Implications from this review include the development of “best practices,” increased funding for IT infrastructure, and the establishment of strategic management framework for IT initiatives. 


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-305
Author(s):  
June Beckman-Moore ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Lindsay Ruland

ABSTRACTObjective: Because most bioterrorist disease agents are zoonotic, veterinarians are important partners in preparedness. New York State is a prime port of entry and has a network of health and emergency management agencies for response. However, knowledge and participation by veterinarians has not yet been assessed.Methods: A 25-question survey was mailed out to approximately half (1832) of the veterinarians licensed in New York State. Participants were asked about past emergency preparedness training, likelihood of participating in future training, preferred training topics, and their relationship with their local health department (LHD).Results: Completed questionnaires were received from 529 veterinarians (29%). Most (83%) reported that they were likely to participate in emergency preparedness training, but in the past 2 years, only 14% received training in zoonotic disease outbreaks and 12% in emergency preparedness. Only 21% reported having a relationship with their LHD, but 48% were interested in having one. Lack of time was the biggest obstacle to involvement with the LHD (40%). Most (69%) of those responding to the survey said they would participate in training once per year or more often.Conclusions: Inducements, such as earning continuing education credits, or the development of active networks of preparedness organizations, state and local health departments, and veterinary schools are needed to deliver emergency preparedness training and information efficiently to veterinarians.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:300-305)


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 454-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asante Shipp Hilts ◽  
Stephanie Mack ◽  
Yunshu Li ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThe objective was to provide a broad spectrum of New York State and local public health staff the opportunity to contribute anonymous feedback on their own and their agencies’ preparedness and response to Hurricane Sandy, perceived challenges, and recommendations for preparedness improvement.MethodsIn 2015, 2 years after Hurricane Sandy, public health staff who worked on Hurricane Sandy response were identified and were provided a link to the anonymous survey. Quantitative analyses were used for survey ratings and qualitative content analyses were used for open-ended questions.ResultsSurveys were completed by 129 local health department (LHD) staff in 3 counties heavily impacted by Sandy (Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester) and 69 staff in the New York State Department of Health who supported the LHDs. Staff agreed that their Hurricane Sandy responsibilities were clearly defined and that they had access to adequate information to perform their jobs. Challenges were reported in the operational, communication, service interruptions, and staff categories, with LHD staff also reporting challenges with shelters.ConclusionsNew York local and state public health staff indicated that they were prepared for Hurricane Sandy. However, their feedback identified specific challenges and recommendations that can be addressed to implement improved preparedness and response strategies. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:454–462)


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1953 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-190
Author(s):  
GEORGE M. WHEATLEY

THE dangers of radiation have been recognized for many years. Even experienced physicians use x-ray equipment with extreme care and only when benefits from diagnosis and treatment can be expected to outweigh possible harm. It is not surprising, therefore, that roentgenologists and public health departments have become increasingly disturbed over the use of x-ray shoe-fitting machines in retail shoe stores. The New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health have recently altered the Sanitary Code in order to regulate the use of fluoroscopes in shoe stores.


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