Bioterrorism Preparedness: Strengthening Nebraska’s Public Health System

1. Bioterrorism Preparedness:Strengthening Nebraska’s Public Health System Dr. Richard Raymond Chief Medical Officer NE Health & Human Services System www.hhs.state.ne.us 8-2003

3. “Preparedness is not an event, it’s a continuous process. We’re more prepared than we were yesterday…we’ll be more prepared in the future.” Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

5. Governor Johanns’ Homeland Security Policy GroupLt. Governor - Chair State Fire Marshal The Adjutant General Policy Secretary, HHSSDeputy Director, NEMA Governor’s PolicySuperintendent of State Patrol Research Office Chancellor, University of Nebraska Medical CenterThe State’s Chief Medical Officer, the Director of the Nebraska Public Health Lab, and the State’s Chief Information Officer attend every meeting.This structure created a system for a comprehensive, strategic approach to homeland security rather than a fragmented, departmental approach.

6. Governor Johanns’Homeland Leadership GroupNEMA - Coordinates Leadership Group ActivitiesNational GuardFBIState PatrolFire MarshalHHSSUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterDepartment of Environmental QualityDepartment of RoadsDepartment of AgricultureAttorney General’s OfficeThe Leadership Group is responsible for planning, training, and assessment activities, for making recommendations to the Policy Group, and for implementing Policy Group directives.

7. All funding must be approved by the Homeland Security Policy Group DHS - Local government equipment grants (ODP)DHS - State equipment grantsCDC Bioterrorism fundingHRSA Funding

8. “I don’t think there’s any question we are significantly better off today than we were two years ago.” Dave Heineman, Lt. Governor, Nebraska

9. Bioterrorism Preparedness • Early Detection • Rapid Identification • Prompt Treatment • Prevention of Spread

10. Seven Focus Areas A: Planning and readiness assessment B: Surveillance and epidemiology capacity C: Laboratory capacity D: Chemical Preparedness E: Health Alert Network F: Risk communication/health information G: Education/training of health professionals

11. “A state’s public health services are only as good as its local delivery system, and that’s where Nebraska has made marked improvements. Three years ago, the state had only 16 local health departments, which provided services to 22 of its 93 counties. Using part of a $50 million appropriation from the state’s tobacco settlement, and a Turning Point grant, the state built 14 new local departments and restructured two others in a remarkably short time.” Governing Magazine, February 2004

14. Focus Area A: Planning and Readiness Assessment • Strategic National Stockpile • ABX Stockpile • Public Health Law • 10 bed Isolation Unit • Local Planning and Readiness Assessment • Local Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

15. Focus Area A: Planning and Readiness Assessment • OMMERS • LMMRS • TRIMMERS • Poison Center

16. Focus Area B: Surveillance and Epidemiology Capacity • Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Dept. • Douglas County Health Department • Central Health District • NE Health & Human Services System • Community Health Centers • NEDSS • EPI 101 • Local Surveillance Coordinator

17. Focus Area C: Laboratory Capacity • Unique partnership between HHSS and University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) • Special pathogens laboratory at Nebraska Public Health lab • Smallpox and Ricin testing • SARS and WNV

18. Focus Area C: Laboratory Capacity (cont.) • 85 labs connected via Internet & have digital cameras via computer to transmit photos back to us of questionable takes • Health Alert Network (HAN) connectedness • Food/water lab upgrade with Ag

19. Focus Area D: Chemical Preparedness • Nebraska Public Health Laboratory located at UNMC • Nebraska Center for Bioterrorism Education

20. Focus Area E: Health Alert Network Contracts with: • Every Hospital • Every Public Health Department • Every Community Health Center • Health Professional Tracking Center • (Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Veterinarians, Dentists)

21. Focus Area E: Health Alert Network Other Contacts: • Poison Center • Community Action Agencies Activities: • Live, interactive telecommunications • Voice Notification Systems • Tac Pacs • Influenza Survey

22. Focus Area F:Risk Communication and Health Information • Adding Video Streaming • Bioterrorism Web page • HAN Web page • Media Message Development • Building Infrastructure support • Communication support to local health departments

23. “A prepared workforce is an essential component in strengthening our national public health system.” Joseph M. Henderson CDC Associate Director Terrorism, Preparedness & Response

24. Focus Area G:Education and Training of Health Professionals • Unique relationship • 2 medical schools • Creighton University Medical School • University of Nebraska Medical School

25. Focus Area G:Education and Training of Health Professionals • Nebraska Health Education Consortium • 2 Co-chairs • 35 organizations

26. Focus Area G:Education and Training of Health Professionals (continued) • Statewide 2-day symposiums • Library on Web • BT Certification • Speakers Bureau • AG - LEDRS

27. Statewide Preparedness Smallpox Team • Nebraska leads nation • 2nd in smallpox vaccination per capita • 6th in number of vaccinations

28. Statewide Preparedness Smallpox Team Team can: • Care for patient with suspected smallpox • Conduct investigations into source of the disease, and • Provide immunizations for close contacts

30. Statewide Preparedness Smallpox Team • Local Health Departments/local BT Coordinators • Health Alert Network keeps health care providers informed of breaking news • Bioterrorism Education Consortium • Library of information • HHSS Web site • HHSS video streaming

31. For more information, go to hhs.state.ne.us

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