1. Healthy people living, working, and playing in Baltimore County
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Immunization Partners in a Pandemic Response
Gregory Wm. Branch, M.D., MBA, CPE
Baltimore County Health Officer and Director
April 20, 2010
Baltimore County Department of Health

2. Overview Preparing for a Pandemic Response
Benefits of Non-Traditional Partnerships
Contributions of Traditional and Non-
Traditional Partners
BCDH H1N1 Stats
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners – IDEAL
Successes and Challenges
Lessons Learned
Baltimore County Department of Health

3. Baltimore County, Maryland
Population – 785,000
* 3.1% of population is Hispanic
Source: US Census Bureau State and County QuickFacts
Baltimore County Department of Health

4. Baltimore County Department of Health
Six Bureaus
Administrative Services
Behavioral Health
Clinical Services
Healthcare Access
Community Health Services
Prevention, Protection, and Preparedness
Baltimore County Department of Health

5. Preparing for a Pandemic
PHER Grants
H1N1 Community Health Planning Summit
Meeting with County Executive and Agency Heads
Baltimore County Department of Health

6. “All Hands on Deck” Baltimore County Pandemic Response Theme
Baltimore County Department of Health

7. Benefits of Non-Traditional Immunization Partnerships
Maximize use of resources
Added expertise, manpower, and material
resources
Introduce and reinforce non-traditional
partners’ role in public health emergency
responses
Baltimore County Department of Health

8. Benefits of Non-Traditional Immunization Partnerships
Convey united front to public
Provide insight in areas outside of public
health
Baltimore County Department of Health

9. Traditional Immunization Partners
Private Providers – collaborate to educate and vaccinate community
Community Vaccinators – collaborate to educate and vaccinate community
Schools – educate families; facilitate school-based clinics
Baltimore County Department of Health

10. Supported Community Mitigation measures
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Baltimore County Residents
Adhered to Priority Group guidelines
Supported Community Mitigation measures
Sought information through website and Community Connection Network
Baltimore County Department of Health

11. Facilitated vaccination of vulnerable population
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Dept. of Community Conservation
Facilitated vaccination of vulnerable
population
Identified homeless children and close contacts to target for vaccination
Baltimore County Department of Health

12. Vaccinated their staff and volunteers with
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Fire Department
Vaccinated their staff and volunteers with
vaccine provided by Department of Health
EMS provided staffing to support
Department of Health mass vaccination
clinics
Stored vaccine
Baltimore County Department of Health

13. Allowed use of branches as vaccination sites
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Libraries
Allowed use of branches as vaccination
sites
Promoted community mitigation measures
Hosted Emergency Preparedness
presentations
Hosted mobile unit clinics
Baltimore County Department of Health

14. Allowed use of facilities Provided staff to support clinics
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Recreation and Parks
Allowed use of facilities
Provided staff to support clinics
Set up equipment (ie. tents, heaters, etc.)
for clinics
Hosted mobile unit clinics
Baltimore County Department of Health

15. Facilitated H1N1 Information Hotline & Call Center
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners Information Technology
Facilitated H1N1 Information Hotline & Call Center
Updated website with clinic schedule and general info
Created online appointment pre-registration
Baltimore County Department of Health

16. Other Non-Traditional Partners
Budget and Finance – expedited purchase of technology upgrades and critical services
Workforce Development – Allowed use of mobile unit for mobile clinics
Public Works – provided electronic message boards and manual labor for clinics
Police – managed clinic crowds, traffic, and parking
Baltimore County Department of Health

17. Other Non-Traditional Partners
Human Resources – expedited hiring process
Aging – helped recruit volunteers through Volunteer Program; provided staff and locations for clinics; facilitated clinics at the senior centers
Baltimore County Department of Health

18. BCDH H1N1 Vaccination Statistics
Administered 51,454 H1N1 vaccinations
Held >70 H1N1 vaccination clinics
Enlisted 20+ community partnerships
Baltimore County Department of Health

19. I – Identify potential partners
Mobilizing Non-Traditional Partners is I.D.E.A.L
I – Identify potential partners
D – Determine (with partners) terms of partnership
E – Educate and update partners on role and “master plan”
A – Activate & ongoing Assessment of plan
L – (Compile) Lessons Learned
Baltimore County Department of Health

20. Identify Potential Partners
Think big
Work backwards – think about what is needed then who can help
Solicit input from staff and traditional partners
Baltimore County Department of Health

21. Determine Terms of Partnership
Present overall plan and solicit feedback
Discuss and Agree on:
Who will be involved from each agency/partner?
What does the partnership entail?
When will partner be needed?
Where will their contribution be needed?
How (long) will the partnership last?
Baltimore County Department of Health

22. Educate and Update Provide partners with appropriate level of
information about issue
Provide relevant updates
Agree on method(s) for sharing
information, including medium and contact
person
Baltimore County Department of Health

23. Activate & Assess Plan Implement plan Assess implementation of plan
Assess and monitor partnerships
Baltimore County Department of Health

24. (Compile) Lessons Learned
Record and solicit Lessons Learned
throughout response
Compile Lessons Learned and share with
partners
Utilize Lessons Learned for future
programs and responses
Encourage partners to implement Lessons
Learned
Baltimore County Department of Health

25. Successes & Challenges Successes
Countywide buy-in to “All Hands on Deck”
#1 in Maryland for number of H1N1 vaccinations given
Commendations from public and partners
Repeated education about partners’ role in public health emergencies
Baltimore County Department of Health

26. Successes & Challenges Challenges
Keeping partners informed of new / late-breaking developments
Integrating priorities of partner agencies
Learning and adhering to chain of command of partner agencies
Baltimore County Department of Health

27. Lessons Learned
Support from County leaders is critical to spirit of partnership
Engage partners early
Identify one (or two) contacts to streamline information-sharing
Stay in touch
Be flexible
Be prepared to make decisions quickly
Recognize partners
Reciprocate
Baltimore County Department of Health

28. Contact Gregory Wm. Branch, MD, MBA, CPE Health Officer and Director
Healthy people living, working, and playing in Baltimore County
Contact
Gregory Wm. Branch, MD, MBA, CPE
Health Officer and Director
Baltimore County Department of Health
Baltimore County Department of Health