New York State Public Health System Response to Hurricane Sandy: An Analysis of Survey Feedback

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 454-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asante Shipp Hilts ◽  
Stephanie Mack ◽  
Yunshu Li ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
System Response ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Local Health ◽  
York State ◽  
Public Health Staff

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)

scholarly journals New York State Public Health System Response to Hurricane Sandy: Lessons From the Field

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asante Shipp Hilts ◽  
Stephanie Mack ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
Guthrie S. Birkhead
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
System Response ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
York State

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)

New York State Public Health System Response to Hurricane Sandy: An Analysis of Emergency Reports

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asante Shipp Hilts ◽  
Stephanie Mack ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Trang Nguyen ◽  
Guthrie S. Birkhead
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Health System ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
System Response ◽  
Emergency Operations ◽  
York State

AbstractObjectiveAnalyzing Hurricane Sandy emergency reports to assess the New York State (NYS) public health system response will help inform and improve future disaster preparedness and response.MethodsQualitative analysis of NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Nassau and Suffolk County local health department (LHD) emergency reports was conducted. Three after-action reports and 48 situation reports were reviewed, grouped by key words and sorted into 16 Public Health Preparedness Capabilities. Within each capability, key words were labeled as strengths, challenges, or recommendations.ResultsThe NYSDOH capability most cited as a strength was successful emergency operations coordination, eg, interagency conference calls (27.4% of 1681 strengths). The most cited challenge was environmental health protection, eg, mold and oil spills (28% of 706 challenges). The LHD capability most cited both as a strength (46.7% of 30 strengths) and as a challenge (32.5% of 123 challenges) was emergency operations coordination. Strengths were exemplified by sharing local resources and challenges by insufficient memorandums of understanding for coordination.ConclusionsPost-disaster emergency reports should be systematically reviewed to highlight both successes and areas for improvement. Future studies should prioritize collecting feedback from a wider spectrum of public health and service provider staff for planning of preparedness and response activities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;10:308–313)

Window of Opportunity for New Disease Surveillance: Developing Keyword Lists for Monitoring Mental Health and Injury Through Syndromic Surveillance

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Lauper ◽  
Jian-Hua Chen ◽  
Shao Lin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Free Text ◽  
York State ◽  
The Impact

AbstractStudies have documented the impact that hurricanes have on mental health and injury rates before, during, and after the event. Since timely tracking of these disease patterns is crucial to disaster planning, response, and recovery, syndromic surveillance keyword filters were developed by the New York State Department of Health to study the short- and long-term impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Emergency department syndromic surveillance is recognized as a valuable tool for informing public health activities during and immediately following a disaster. Data typically consist of daily visit reports from hospital emergency departments (EDs) of basic patient data and free-text chief complaints. To develop keyword lists, comparisons were made with existing CDC categories and then integrated with lists from the New York City and New Jersey health departments in a collaborative effort. Two comprehensive lists were developed, each containing multiple subcategories and over 100 keywords for both mental health and injury. The data classifiers using these keywords were used to assess impacts of Sandy on mental health and injuries in New York State. The lists will be validated by comparing the ED chief complaint keyword with the final ICD diagnosis code. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:173–178)

scholarly journals Crisis Decision-Making During Hurricane Sandy: An Analysis of Established and Emergent Disaster Response Behaviors in the New York Metro Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Chandler ◽  
David M Abramson ◽  
Benita Panigrahi ◽  
Jeff Schlegelmilch ◽  
Noelle Frye
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New York ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Staff

AbstractObjectiveThis collective case study examined how and why specific organizational decision-making processes transpired at 2 large suburban county health departments in lower New York State during their response to Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The study also examined the relationships that the agencies developed with other emerging and established organizations within their respective health systems.MethodsIn investigating these themes, the authors conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 30 senior-level public health staff and first responders; reviewed documentation; and moderated 2 focus group discussions with 17 participants.ResultsAlthough a natural hazard such as a hurricane was not an unexpected event for these health departments, they nevertheless confronted a number of unforeseen challenges during the response phase: prolonged loss of power and fuel, limited situational awareness of the depth and breadth of the storm’s impact among disaster-exposed populations, and coordination problems with a number of organizations that emerged in response to the disaster.ConclusionsPublic health staff had few plans or protocols to guide them and often found themselves improvising and problem-solving with new organizations in the context of an overburdened health care system (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:436–442).

scholarly journals Allocation of Ventilators in a Public Health Disaster

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tia Powell ◽  
Kelly C. Christ ◽  
Guthrie S. Birkhead
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Clinical Guidelines ◽  
Task Force ◽  
New York State ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
York State Department ◽  
York State

ABSTRACTBackground: In a public health emergency, many more patients could require mechanical ventilators than can be accommodated.Methods: To plan for such a crisis, the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law convened a workgroup to develop ethical and clinical guidelines for ventilator triage.Results: The workgroup crafted an ethical framework including the following components: duty to care, duty to steward resources, duty to plan, distributive justice, and transparency. Incorporating the ethical framework, the clinical guidelines propose both withholding and withdrawing ventilators from patients with the highest probability of mortality to benefit patients with the highest likelihood of survival. Triage scores derive from the sepsis-related organ failure assessment system, which assigns points based on function in 6 basic medical domains. Triage may not be implemented by a facility without clear permission from public health authorities.Conclusions: New York State released the draft guidelines for public comment, allowing for revision to reflect both community values and medical innovation. This ventilator triage system represents a radical shift from ordinary standards of care, and may serve as a model for allocating other scarce resources in disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:20–26)

Survey of New York Veterinarians to Assess Needs for Public Health Preparedness Training

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-305
Author(s):  
June Beckman-Moore ◽  
Millicent Eidson ◽  
Lindsay Ruland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
York State ◽  
State And Local

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)

scholarly journals Giardia outbreak associated with a roadside spring in Rensselaer County, New York

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (14) ◽  
pp. 3013-3016 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. BEDARD ◽  
R. ELDER ◽  
L. PHILLIPS ◽  
M. F. WACHUNAS
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Epidemiological Investigation ◽  
York State ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
A Site

SUMMARYIn September 2009, the Rensselaer County Department of Health investigated an increase in Giardia duodenalis cases. The epidemiological investigation identified that a source of the illness could be a roadside spring located in the eastern part of the county. Epidemiological and environmental health staff conducted a site visit to the roadside spring and found several concerns. Water samples were collected from the roadside spring and sent to the New York State Department of Health for analysis. The water sample results indicated the presence of empty Giardia cysts. Prevention methods occurred and the roadside spring was destroyed. A total of 36 laboratory-confirmed cases of Giardia were identified from this outbreak that included residents of New York State and Massachusetts.

Barriers to Meeting Community Needs in New York State during COVID-19: Results From a Pilot Survey of Nongovernmental Population and Community Health Professionals

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110654
Author(s):  
Renata Schiavo ◽  
Mayela Arana ◽  
Nicole Levy ◽  
Yesenia Grijalva ◽  
Sarah Ravenhall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
New York State ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
York State ◽  
And Training

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.

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