NCJ Number
189780
Date Published
January 2001
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article outlines the elements to assist local public health officials and their partners in identifying their public health and safety roles when responding to bioterrorism.
Abstract
Although focusing on local public health agencies, the public health response to a bioterrorist event is part of a larger response that will involve criminal investigation and other emergency management authorities at the local, State, and Federal levels. The covert release of a biological agent will almost certainly go initially undetected in most areas of the country. Therefore, the first responders to an event will be alert physicians, emergency room personnel, and well-trained and prepared public health practitioners who detect the unusual event, and report it to their response partners. There are 10 Essential Services used to develop general performance standards for public health agencies. Number one is to monitor health status to identify community health problems. The second essential service is to diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community. The third is to inform, educate, and empower people about health issues. Number four is to mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems. Number five is to develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. The sixth is to enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety. Number seven is to link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of healthcare when otherwise unavailable. Number eight is to assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce. Number nine is to evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services. Finally, the last essential service is to research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems. 5 references and resource listing.