A Survey of Usage Protocols of Syndromic Surveillance Systems by State Public Health Departments in the United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Uscher-Pines ◽  
Corey L. Farrell ◽  
Jacqueline Cattani ◽  
Yu-Hsiang Hsieh ◽  
Michael D. Moskal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Departments

Framework for the Development of Response Protocols for Public Health Syndromic Surveillance Systems: Case Studies of 8 US States

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (S1) ◽  
pp. S29-S36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Uscher-Pines ◽  
Corey L. Farrell ◽  
Steven M. Babin ◽  
Jacqueline Cattani ◽  
Charlotte A. Gaydos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
System Response ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance System

ABSTRACTObjectives: To describe current syndromic surveillance system response protocols in health departments from 8 diverse states in the United States and to develop a framework for health departments to use as a guide in initial design and/or enhancement of response protocols.Methods: Case study design that incorporated in-depth interviews with health department staff, textual analysis of response plans, and a Delphi survey of syndromic surveillance response experts.Results: All 8 states and 30 of the 33 eligible health departments agreed to participate (91% response rate). Fewer than half (48%) of surveyed health departments had a written response protocol, and health departments reported conducting in-depth investigations on fewer than 15% of syndromic surveillance alerts. A convened panel of experts identified 32 essential elements for inclusion in public health protocols for response to syndromic surveillance system alerts.Conclusions: Because of the lack of guidance, limited resources for development of response protocols, and few examples of syndromic surveillance detecting previously unknown events of public health significance, health departments have not prioritized the development and refinement of response protocols. Systems alone, however, are not effective without an organized public health response. The framework proposed here can guide health departments in creating protocols that will be standardized, tested, and relevant given their goals with such systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(Suppl 1):S29–S36)

Application for Public Health Accreditation Among US Local Health Departments in 2013 to 2019: Impact of Service and Activity Mix

2020 ◽  
pp. e1-e8
Author(s):  
Jonathon P. Leider ◽  
Jessica Kronstadt ◽  
Valerie A. Yeager ◽  
Kellie Hall ◽  
Chelsey K. Saari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Profile Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Funding Support

Objectives. To examine correlates of applying for accreditation among small local health departments (LHDs) in the United States through 2019. Methods. We used administrative data from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and 2013, 2016, and 2019 Profile data from the National Association of County and City Health Officials to examine correlates of applying for PHAB accreditation. We fit a latent class analysis (LCA) to characterize LHDs by service mix and size. We made bivariate comparisons using the t test and Pearson χ2. Results. By the end of 2019, 126 small LHDs had applied for accreditation (8%). When we compared reasons for not pursuing accreditation, we observed a difference by size for perceptions that standards exceeded LHD capacity (47% for small vs 22% for midsized [P < .001] and 0% for large [P < .001]). Conclusions. Greater funding support, considering differing standards by LHD size, and recognition that service mix might affect practicality of accreditation are all relevant considerations in attempting to increase uptake of accreditation for small LHDs. Public Health Implications. Overall, small LHDs represented about 60% of all LHDs that had not yet applied to PHAB. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 22, 2020: e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306007 )

scholarly journals Epidemiology Workforce Capacity in 27 Large Urban Health Departments in the United States, 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-394
Author(s):  
Meghan D. McGinty ◽  
Nancy Binkin ◽  
Jessica Arrazola ◽  
Mia N. Israel ◽  
Chrissie Juliano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Full Time Equivalent ◽  
Workforce Capacity

Objectives: The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) has periodically assessed the epidemiological capacity of states since 2001, but the data do not reflect the total US epidemiology capacity. CSTE partnered with the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) in 2017 to assess epidemiology capacity in large urban health departments. We described the epidemiology workforce capacity of large urban health departments in the United States and determined gaps in capacity among BCHC health departments. Methods: BCHC, in partnership with CSTE, modified the 2017 State Epidemiology Capacity Assessment for its 30 member departments. Topics in the assessment included epidemiology leadership, staffing, funding, capacity to perform 4 epidemiology-related Essential Public Health Services, salary ranges, hiring requirements, use of competencies, training needs, and job vacancies. Results: The 27 (90%) BCHC-member health departments that completed the assessment employed 1091 full-time equivalent epidemiologists. All or nearly all health departments provided epidemiology services for programs in infectious disease (n = 27), maternal and child health (n = 27), preparedness (n = 27), chronic diseases (n = 25), vital statistics (n = 25), and environmental health (n = 23). On average, funding for epidemiology activities came from local (47%), state (24%), and federal (27%) sources. Health departments reported needing a 40% increase from the current number of epidemiologists to achieve ideal epidemiology capacity. Twenty-five health departments reported substantial-to-full capacity to monitor health problems, 21 to diagnose health problems, 11 to conduct evaluations, and 9 to perform applied research. Conclusions: Strategies to meet 21st century challenges and increase substantial-to-full epidemiological capacity include seeking funds from nongovernmental sources, partnering with schools and programs of public health, and identifying creative solutions to hiring and retaining epidemiologists.

scholarly journals Application of Syndromic Surveillance to Describe Gunshot-related Injuries in Houston

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Arnold ◽  
Wesley McNeely ◽  
Kasimu Muhetaer ◽  
Biru Yang ◽  
Raouf R. Arafat
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Risk ◽  
The Past ◽  
Houston Area

Firearm-related injuries pose a substantial public health risk in the United States, and traditional means of studying this issue rely primarily on retrospective analyses. Syndromic surveillance, collected in over 30 Houston area emergency departments, is well suited to characterize and analyze gunshot injuries in the area in near real-time. Over the past two years, more than 900 gunshot-related injury visits were identified using this method, and ArcGIS effectively identified incident densities in ZIP codes throughout Houston. Most patients were males (86.3%), between the ages of 18 and 34 (64.7%).

scholarly journals Chemical Weapon Functional Exercise—Cincinnati: Observations and Lessons Learned from a “Typical Medium-Sized” City's Response to Simulated Terrorism Utilizing Weapons of Mass Destruction

2003 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis J. FitzGerald ◽  
Matthew D. Sztajnkrycer ◽  
Todd J. Crocco
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Weapons Of Mass Destruction ◽  
Chemical Weapon ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Mass Destruction ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Medical Response

In the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks and the subsequent anthrax scare, there is growing concern about the United States' vulnerability to terrorist use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). As part of ongoing preparation for this terrible reality, many jurisdictions have been conducting simulated terrorist incidents to provide training for the public safety community, hospitals, and public health departments. As an example of this national effort to improve domestic preparedness for such events, a large scale, multi-jurisdictional chemical weapons drill was conducted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 20, 2000. This drill depicted the components of the early warning system for hospitals and public health departments, the prehospital medical response to terrorism. Over the course of the exercise, emergency medical services personnel decontaminated, triaged, treated, and transported eighty-five patients. Several important lessons were learned that day that have widespread applicability to health care delivery systems nationwide, especially in the areas of decontamination, triage, on-scene medical care, and victim transportation. As this training exercise helped Cincinnati to prepare for dealing with future large scale WMD incidents, such drills are invaluable preparation for all communities in a world increasingly at risk from terrorist attacks.

scholarly journals The Effects of Community Size, Control Over Agenda, and Contextual Variables on Zika Virus Preparation of Public Information Officers at Local Public Health Departments

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Avery
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Size Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Community Size ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

As Zika emerged as a major global health threat, public information officers (PIOs) at local public health departments across the United States prepared for outbreaks of the virus amid great uncertainty. Using the crisis and risk emergency communication (CERC) model to inform this study, PIOs (n = 226) at public health departments were surveyed to assess how community size, perceived control over health agenda, and other considerations such as resources and federal influences affected their satisfaction with Zika preparedness in their departments. These contextual, indirect factors may moderate planning efforts for Zika and other health emergencies and thus should be considered in crisis management and planning models such as CERC.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document