1. Emergency Planning and Preparedness Howard W. Levitin, M.D., FACEP Emergency Physician and Consultant Disaster Planning International Sue Losch Skidmore, R.N., B.S.N. Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

2. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Phase One Findings  Readiness efforts occurring independently  No nationally accepted measures of preparedness –Staffing –Treatment capacity –Stockpiling of resources –Communications –Security –Mass Prophylaxis & vaccination –Bed utilization –Emergency department overcrowding –Emergency medical services  Administrative support is key to readiness

3. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Phase Two  The first questionnaire was revised to include: –issues related to regional health care facilities/systems bioterrorism preparedness –objective measures that users need to interpret the results of the questionnaire –best practices

4. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Historically  No evidence that the data gathered predicts preparedness  No established measures of bioterrorism preparedness  No generally accepted scenario to base preparedness  Most assessment tools have not been evaluated for validity  Most assessment tools have not obtained national buy-in

5. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Validity  Pooled 12 of the leading assessment tools  Each question rated by expert panel on relevance/pertinence  Working group reviewed all findings JCAHO MD Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Inova Health System University of Texas DC Hospital Association Delaware Division of Public Health PA Department of Public Health IL Department of Public Health Vanderbilt University  Utilized the expertise of The Myers Group – a national survey & market research firm NJ Department of Health & Senior Services Baltimore City Health Department Battelle Booz Allen Hamilton Disaster Planning International University of Maryland University of West Virginia Emory University

6. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Design Criteria  Issues under the direct responsibility &control of hospital leadership  Unique response requirements of a bioterrorism event only  Regional issues that only involve hospital participation & roles  Questions will be designed for benchmarking purposes  Must be relevant to preparedness & capacity  Each question must be tied to objective measures of readiness

7. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Focus  Regional linkages  Bioterrorism planning & structure  Training & exercise  Triage, diagnosis & treatment  Infection control, decontamination & isolation  Public health surveillance  Surge capacity & space utilization  Laboratory  Pharmacy & mass immunization  Safety & psych support  Information systems  Public relations

8. Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Questionnaire: Readiness  Standardize definitions of preparedness & capacity  Peer-reviewed readiness milestones will be developed  The ability to benchmark readiness & measure readiness progress  Data gathered can be used to model readiness  Developing a national standard creates allows for research

9. For more information about the first phase of the AHRQ-sponsored project and a copy of the original questionnaire, "Bioterrorism Emergency Planning and Preparedness Questionnaire for Healthcare Facilities," please visit http://archive.ahrq.gov/research/sep02/0902r a23.htm http://archive.ahrq.gov/research/sep02/0902r a23.htm