 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Gregory M. Bogdan, PhD1, Deb Scherger, RN, MS2, Deb Keller1, and Anna Seroka, RN, MEd1. (1) Denver Center for Public Health Preparedness, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center, 1001 Yosemite St, Denver, CO 80230, 303-739-1239, greg.bogdan@rmpdc.org, (2) Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center, 1001 Yosemite Street, Denver, CO 80230
Background: Public health agencies faced challenges implementing pre-event smallpox vaccinations. A vital component was educating the public and potential vaccinees about smallpox vaccination and its consequences. A mechanism for documenting vaccine adverse reactions and for providing medical consultation to clinicians and vaccinees was also required.
Methods: Two telephone hotlines, one for public information and one for vaccinees and medical consultation, were created for the state and maintained by an established medical information call center with experience in providing poison information, drug information and nurse triage via telephone. Within four weeks, planning for call handling, data management, staff training and ancillary resources was completed. Hotline and state public health staff worked closely to develop information scripts, call handling software, clinical decision trees, adverse event reporting procedures, and mechanisms for accessing additional medical resources (videoconferencing, infectious disease, dermatology and ophthalmology physician on-call schedules). The hotline numbers were publicized via web sites, press releases and vaccinee and clinician educational packets.
Results: The telephone hotlines received 56 calls within the first two weeks of operation. There were no adverse events associated with the state vaccination program. Most callers to the public information hotline were satisfied with recorded information about smallpox. Those choosing to speak with hotline staff were concerned with whether or not to be vaccinated.
Conclusions: A state health department and a medical call center cooperated to provide telephone support services for smallpox vaccinations. Costs for developing these resources for Phase 1 should be considered an investment toward subsequent smallpox vaccination phases.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Partnerships
Related Web page: www.cohelp.us
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment