Information Sharing Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. Division of Public Health Georgia Department of Human Resources Georgia Public Health and Homeland Security

Information Sharing for Homeland Security Response Public Health Health Care Providers Law enforcement Emergency management Public Media External Internal State District Local

Georgia Public Health State-based Public Health - State Office (Atlanta) - 19 Public Health Districts 159 County Boards of Health

Pre-2001 Communication Infrastructure -Georgia was an original INPHO state -Connectivity between State and District offices only -No systematic communication with any Homeland Security partners “Internal” public health communication only

Pre-2001 information infrastructure

1 State Health Officer Commissioner, DHRGovernor’s Office District Health Directors DPH Epi DPH Emergency Preparedness Team CDC District Epis GPHLab DHR Risk Communications District Risk Communications District Emergency Coordinators GEMA District/County PH Local Officials Law Enforcement EMS EMA Hospitals Infection Control Practitioners Emergency Rooms Community Health Centers Local MDs GA Information Sharing & Analysis Center (GISAC) EMAs Office of Homeland Security Media Public Health Response Communication Chain General Public Dept Ag Homeland Security Agencies Current Georgia Model

Homeland Security Task Force William W. “Bill” Hichens, Jr. Director Georgia Office of Homeland Security Major General David Poythress Adjutant General of Georgia Georgia Department of Defense Mike Sherberger Director Georgia Emergency Management Agency Lonice C. Barrett Commissioner Georgia Department of Natural Resources Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. Director Division of Public Health Georgia Department of Human Resources Harold Linnekohl Commissioner Georgia Department of Transportation Frank V. Rotondo Executive Director Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Sheriff Stanley Tuggle Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Chief Rebecca Denlinger Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs George A. Ellis Colonel/Commissioner Georgia State Patrol Vernon M. Keenan Director Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Georgia Homeland Security Task Force –Created October 2001 –Director of Public Health is full member –PH representation on multi-disciplinary working groups –Weekly Meetings with in-depth information sharing

GISAC (Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center) GISAC (Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center) –Co-located with the Atlanta FBI office –Collects, evaluates, and disseminates intelligence and threat information

Department of Agriculture Coordination –Active member of Homeland Security Task Force and working groups –Legislation – made animal diseases reportable –Reporting system for animal diseases, parallel to Public Health system –Web-based disease reporting –Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center – notifications and access to secure web site –Training – including Ag inspectors of retail establishments and food processing plants

Public Health Epidemiologic & Health Data Infrastructure –Strong State-based Epi Capacity –District Epidemiologists –District Emergency Preparedness Coordinators and Specialists –District Risk Communicators –Public Health District Liaisons –Office of Health Information and Policy –“OASIS” – On-line Statistical Information System

SENDSS State Electronic Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System

Communications about Public Health Threats –1-866-PUB-HLTH (PH, GEMA, Medical Community) 24/7 Toll-free Reporting –Incident Reports (GEMA, GISAC, HLS) –Protocol Development for Response to Suspicious Substances (FBI, GEMA, Lab, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparedness) –Forensic Epidemiology Training with Law Enforcement