Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116188

Christopher M. Cannon, MSN, MPH, MBA, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, Yale New Haven Health System, 1 Church St., 5th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, 203-688-3224, christopher.cannon@ynhh.org

In 2002 Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) was contracted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health to provide emergency preparedness and disaster response education and training to the state's 178,500 healthcare delivery workers. In response to the audience's size and diversity, YNHHS adopted the following planning approach to optimize its results and deliver consistent information to the community's healthcare workforce.

Evidence-based Course Development. To identify knowledge levels, learning preferences and availability of courses to meet emergency management information needs of its audiences, YNHHS conducted needs assessments of community healthcare organizations, surveys of healthcare delivery worker education and training preferences, a literature review, gap analysis and research into existing courses. The results were used to develop appropriate course materials, adapt them to different community healthcare organizations and ensure their usability.

Consistent, Integrated Delivery. The focus was on providing a consistent, basic level of awareness about emergency management issues relevant to healthcare delivery workers in community healthcare organizational settings (hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, urgent care centers, EMS, physician practices) using common language to foster communication among workers and promote an integrated response within the community for emergency and disaster events. Multiple delivery mechanisms (CD-ROM, video, classroom teaching, web-based online instruction) were utilized to reach diverse audiences and make course materials available throughout the community.

Ongoing Evaluation of Effectiveness. Pre- and post-tests and drills and exercises are employed to assess success in delivering consistent, useful information to healthcare delivery workers. Results are used to update courses to increase effectiveness and maintain relevance.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss several related strategies for developing useful education and training to enhance community emergency preparedness and disaster response for a multi-disciplinary and dispersed healthcare audience
• Discuss several related strategies for delivering useful education and training for emergency preparedness and disaster response to diverse healthcare audiences in the community
• Discuss several methodologies for evaluating education and training programs delivered for emergency preparedness and disaster response

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Community Capacity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.