How Public Health and Prisons Can Partner for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: A Report From Georgia

• NCJ Number: 227200
• Journal: Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 118-128
• Author(s): Anne C. Spaulding M.D., M.P.H.; Victoria A McCallum; Dawn Walker; Ariane Reeves R.N., M.P.H.; Cherie Drenzek DVM, M.S.; Sharon Lewis M.D.; Ed Bailey DO, M.B.A.; James W. Buehler M.D.; Ellen A. Spotts Whitney M.P.H.; Ruth L. Berkelman M.D.
• Date Published: April 2009
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 05-080
• Sponsoring Agency: Health Resources and Services Admin (HRSA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes the collaboration and ongoing goals established between administrative leaders and medical staff in Georgia prison facilities and public health officials in the planning efforts for pandemic influenza.

Abstract

As pandemic influenza becomes an increasing threat, partnerships between public health and correctional facilities are necessary to prepare criminal justice systems adequately. Because Georgia has a complex prison system, a conference was conducted in 2007, in Macon, GA, titled Planning for Pandemic Influenza in Prison Settings. The conference was for individuals working in Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facilities. The training conference was a collaborative effort, and its objectives were to (1) educate prison medical directors and health service administrators about pandemic influenza and raise awareness about pandemic influenza issues in the prison setting, (2) provide impetus for initial planning across the Georgia prison system and at individual facilities, and (3) elicit ideas from those overseeing correctional services regarding how prisons in Georgia could best prepare for and respond to pandemic influenza. Three sessions focused on nonpharmaceutical interventions, healthcare surge capacity, and interface with the community and how community interventions might affects prisoners. Observations were made on initial planning, eliciting perspective from those overseeing correctional services, and education and awareness. Following the conference, follow-up plans by GDC and the partners involved in planning the 2007 conference included translating lessons learned and encouraging individual prisons to formulate local operating plans, and having healthcare professionals assess the potential benefit of follow-up meetings in each of the four GDC geographic regions in the State. This preliminary experience of training the Georgia prison system for a pandemic influenza outbreak illustrated the strength of a hands-on approach to learning and served to forge new partnerships. Figures, appendix, and references