Doudelyne Cenafils
MPH
doudelyne.cenafils@waldenu.edu
Product 8
Emergency Preparedness Information
Introduction:
Upon the request of the Emergency Preparedness
Coordinator at the Public Health Department, I began to work on updating the
files containing lists of the city’s health institutions. These artifacts are
three specific documents pertaining to the city preparedness activities,
including alliance with the numerous pharmacies and laboratories as primary
care sites for major emergencies. This task required that I contacted these
sites and ensured that the information listed is correct. During an infectious
outbreak, this tool is evident when planning for and responding to widespread
emergencies which require making difficult decisions under conditions of
stress, uncertainty, and scarcity of resources (HCCHPP, 2010). This document is
extremely necessary for the department’s assessment.
Reflections:
After major disasters, public health workers are often
called upon to participate in a coordinated response and to protect residents
from disease outbreaks and other hazards due to contaminated food and water,
chemical releases, insect-borne diseases, and unmet medical needs. The Division
of Public Health has been actively involved in public health emergency
preparedness planning since 2002, when the City became a Metropolitan Medical
Response System (MMRS) jurisdiction under the auspices of the then Department
of Public Health (WDPH, 2011). The department is focused on health emergencies
that could potentially harm many people, such as pandemic flu, foodborne
diseases, hazardous releases, natural disasters, and terrorism (WDPH, 2011). These
programs integrate public health and medical programming and surveillance into
the healthcare network of the regional hospitals, community health centers and
emergency response service in the event of a disaster (WDPH, 2011).
This
collaboration creates an increased level of awareness, unification and
communication among the major medical preparedness initiatives both locally and
nationally. Therefore, these partnerships enhance planning, communication and
inter-agency response in emergency preparedness initiatives and managing a
local emergency or regional disaster. And, in assessing the community needs, I
acquired knowledge on specific regulations an be able to implement preventive
measures in the community as to reducing risk of contamination and infection,
emergency preparedness strategies in case of natural disasters and pandemics. I
also understood that collaborate with appropriate stakeholders is fundamental
to improve the health and well-being of the residents.
Artifacts:
Please click on the links below to view these documents.