The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74614

Alonzo Plough, PhD, MPH, Director and Health Officer, Public Health - Seattle and King County, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-296-1480, alonzo.plough@metrokc.gov

The practice of public health is a continuously evolving enterprise influenced by new challenges in epidemiological factors related to health and illnesses as well as the political and ideological framing of those factors. Following the events of 9/11, the heighten awareness of the actual and potential risks associated with terrorism in general and biological terrorism in particular have spawned a rapid implementation of policies, funding strategies, and templates for preparedness from multiple federal agencies. These actions very greatly in how grounded they are in a knowledge of the actual practice of public health or an understanding of how newer approaches to preparedness like syndromic surveillance, or biological monitoring connect with more established and essential public health activities like risk communication and community engagement. The result is action strategies poorly linked to the fabric of public health practice. The more serious impact of the recent federal preparedness initiatives is the creation of an growing imbalance between the more comprehensive health promotion and disease prevention activities which are fundamental aspects of public health practice and the new first responder role. These tensions create fissures and faults in the capacity of large metropolitan health departments to be effective as first responder and in our more comprehensive activities. This presentation will present specific examples of the negative impact on a local health department of the issues described above during the last year and some suggestions for a better approach in the future.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, participants will:
• Describe policies, funding strategies, and templates for preparedness from multiple federal agencies;
• Evaluate how newer approaches to preparedness like syndromic surveillance, or biological monitoring connect with more established and essential public health activities like risk communication and community engagement;
• List examples of the negative impact on a local health department of recent federal preparedness initiatives during the last year and describe better approaches for future directions.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Public Health Agency Roles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.