HLT 605 CLC: Public Health Emergencies Week 7 Assignment

HLT 605 CLC: Public Health Emergencies Week 7 Assignment

HLT 605 Grand Canyon Week 7 Assignment

Collaborative Learning Community: Public Health Emergencies

The instructor will assign each student to a CLC group.

Each CLC group will be assigned one of the following public health emergencies to analyze: swine flu, shortages of influenza vaccine, anthrax, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Hurricane Katrina, California wildfires, syphilis outbreak, salmonella outbreak, and mass trauma (such as that associated with terrorists/bombings).

In a report format of 500-750 words, address the following:

1. Describe the chain of command and the method of public health response that was conducted in this situation.
2. Determine the important public health issues related to medical care in this situation.
3. Describe the possible public health risks as well as the pros and cons of communicating the situation to the public and the media.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

One member of the CLC group will post the assignment on Day 1 of the Topic 8 discussion forum for peer review. Individually, provide constructive feedback and commentary and ask specific questions to all posted public health emergencies. In particular, focus on the chain of command as it relates to addressing the specific emergency, the benefits of effective communication, and the risks associated with miscommunication of emergency-related events and statistics. It is the CLC group’s responsibility to decide who will respond to the postings provided by peers. This will account for part of your participation grade for the week.

Online Database or Online Query-Based Report

Select a database from NCHS or complete a query using CDC WISQARS.

Select a specific health concern or injury using the population of your choice. Be sure not to limit your query so you have enough data to evaluate, and include a substantial time frame so you are able to identify trends.

Submit a 750-1,000 word report that provides an overview the database or query results. The report should consist of a demographic description of the chosen population including a review of noticeable trends in morbidity and/or mortality by race, gender, and geographic location where specified.

Based on the results and possible trends, present the implications for public health intervention or involvement.

In your report, include considerations of basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of epidemiologic data. As Chapter 13 of the text describes, focus on privacy and security issues surrounding protected health information and how HIPAA protects the confidentiality of the patient. Consider the ethical implications of whether public health organizations have too much latitude in the use and dissemination of epidemiologic data.

Use examples and evidence to support your report.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFO 

Public Health Emergencies

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency that works to protect public health through immunizations, disease surveillance, and research. In an effort to help Americans stay healthy and prevent infectious diseases from spreading, the CDC also maintains a National Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (NACIP). This group provides recommendations about what vaccinations people should get and when they should get them.

What is a public health emergency?

A public health emergency is a situation that poses a threat to the health of the public. It can be caused by natural disasters or man-made events, such as:

• Pandemic (an epidemic of an infectious disease)

• Bioterrorism attack (a deliberate release or spread of biological toxins, pathogens and their toxins)

• Natural disaster (for example, hurricanes)

How does the CDC respond to public health emergencies?

The CDC is the lead agency for public health emergencies, which include natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes. The CDC has a 24/7 emergency operations center that is dedicated to responding to these types of events. Other federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also play roles in responding to public health emergencies.

The CDC works closely with state and local officials during a public health emergency so they can coordinate their efforts effectively by using resources from all levels of government, including:

• Local law enforcement agencies;

• Fire departments; and

• Hospitals

When does the Secretary invoke emergency authorities?

The Public Health Service Act provides for the Secretary of HHS to determine when it is necessary to invoke emergency authorities. The Secretary can use this authority if there is a public health emergency that requires immediate attention and action, such as an outbreak of infectious disease or a severe weather event.

The Secretary may also invoke emergency powers without a declaration of a state of emergency under section 241(a)(1) (A) and (B) of the Public Health Service Act. This means that if there are ongoing outbreaks or other public health emergencies that require immediate action, but do not meet the criteria for declaring a state of emergency (such as extreme weather conditions), then those officials within their respective agencies may call upon these powers at any time—even after an official declaration has been made by another agency under another provision within Title III: Conferences Between Federal Agencies Related To Public Health And Safety Of Human Subjects In Research Experiments; Departmental Administration; Civil Rights Division–Civil Rights Enforcement–General Counsel’s Office; Office Of The General Counsel–Consumer Complaints Hotline; Office Of Communications; International Affairs & Trade Relationships Management Branch –International Trade Administration.–

What state and local authorities exist for public health emergencies?

State and local authorities have the primary responsibility for responding to public health emergencies, such as pandemics. States and localities can declare a state of emergency by issuing a proclamation or ordinance. The federal government has the authority to declare states of public health emergency if it determines that such action is necessary for the protection against an epidemic or other serious threat to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.

States also have authority under certain circumstances:

• To quarantine people who may be infected with a contagious disease (i.e., quarantining “isolated” patients)

• To restrict travel within their borders (e.g., limiting entry into schools)

What are some common concerns during an emergency ?

The following are some common concerns during an emergency:

• Follow directions. If you’re told to stay indoors, don’t go outside. If you’re told not to use the phone, turn off your computer and don’t check social media sites on your phone or tablet. If there is a warning about a chemical substance in the air, do not breathe it in or touch it when it’s wet (for example, if someone has spilled chemicals).

• Stay informed. Be sure that your household knows where they can find shelter in case of an evacuation order; who will take care of pets? What medications should be taken before leaving home; what food items could be stored at home for handouts during power outages; what resources are available nearby for providing medical attention (doctors’ offices etc.).

Can I stop worrying if there isn’t a major declared public health emergency happening at this moment?

• No, you should still be prepared.

• A public health emergency is an event that poses a significant risk to the health of the general population in a defined geographic area and has the potential to cause widespread social disruption, economic impacts and/or loss of life.

• While there may not be a major declared public health emergency happening at this moment, it’s important for everyone to have their own plan for what they would do if one did occur. The more prepared you are for an emergency situation like this one, the better equipped you will be when it happens.*

Conclusion

We’ve learned that there are many different ways to respond to a public health emergency. Not all of them involve declaring one—but if you do, it’s important to know what your responsibilities might be, and how the government will respond to them. And most importantly: don’t panic! If everyone just took a deep breath and waited for officials from the CDC or other federal agencies to tell us what was happening next, we would all be fine.