Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Measuring Changes In Local Surveillance And Investigation Capacity, Christine A. Bevc, Mary V. Davis, Anna P. Schenck

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: The outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa and confirmation of the first cases in the United States highlight the need for robust and responsive public health surveillance system. With a 25% decline in funding since 2007, the impact on local surveillance capacities has not previously been described.

Purpose: The Surveillance & Investigation domain of the Local Health Department Preparedness Capacities Survey (PCAS) was reweighted to reflect the national profile of LHDs. Changes in subdomain performance of capacities and the effect of population size on subdomain capacity performance were examined over time.

Methods: Participating LHDs (n=208) …

Preliminary Evaluation Of The Disease Surveillance System During Influenza Outbreaks Of Pandemic Scale, Eric Meisheri, Diana M. Prieto, Peter Holvenstot, Richard Vanenk

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

In the United States it is currently unknown whether the influenza surveillance system is capable of producing timely and accurate data for case estimation during an outbreak of pandemic scale. This simulation provides a preliminary evaluation of the surveillance system’s ability to collect data and produce timely and accurate trends of cases confirmed with an influenza virus. For the evaluation, a computer-based simulation of the data-collection process was used, which was validated with real demographic and epidemiologic information. The results were analyzed to determine the most significant behavioral and operational factors influencing the data collection and to propose the exploration …

Perceptions Of School And Health Department Emergency Preparedness Collaboration, Kaitlin A. O'Keefe, Katharine D. Arrington, Michael Prelip, Kimberley I. Shoaf

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: School systems often have the vital responsibility of protecting students during emergency situations. Collaborations with the local health department (LHD) can be invaluable in helping schools effectively fulfill this responsibility.

Purpose: An evaluation of existing organizational collaborations is needed to describe attitudes toward current efforts and to form recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of future joint programs.

Methods: Questionnaires regarding perceptions of existing collaborations were distributed to a sample of LHDs and schools districts in spring and summer 2011. Participant responses from each organization were paired on jurisdictional area, forming 25 paired observations. Analyses were conducted in …

The F-35: Putting Rma Theory To The Test, Alexander Melynkovych

Ex-Patt Magazine

Will history judge the F-35 as a success or failure? Putting RMA Theory to the test.

Trouble In The Family, Travis Cady

Ex-Patt Magazine

Europe is experiencing separatism - is there trouble in the family?

The Sleeping Giant Wants A Veto, Elizabeth Suparmanto

Ex-Patt Magazine

The sleeping giant wants a veto. Will Brazil be able to convince the world it deserves a permanent seat?

Answering The Call To Integrate: Simple Strategies From Public Health And Healthcare Executives In One Urban County, Erik L. Carlton, Paul C. Erwin

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: As the Affordable Care Act transforms the practice of both public health and health care, it also provides opportunity for both to become more closely linked through improved integration and collaboration. Yet, while public health agencies are increasingly called to work with healthcare partners to address population health needs, both public health leaders and their healthcare counterparts may not be well equipped to answer that call. Although recent studies have begun exploring the collaborative strategies and capacity of public health system partners, there is still much to learn. The purpose of this study was to identify, through the perspective …

Accreditation Intent, Community Health Assessments, And Local Health Department–Hospital Collaboration, Erik L. Carlton, Simone Singh

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Community health assessments (CHAs) are among the most core of activities conducted by local health departments (LHDs), and many LHDs have been conducting CHAs on a regular basis for years. More recently, completing a CHA has also become a prerequisite for LHDs seeking accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Similarly, under the Affordable Care Act, tax-exempt hospitals are required to conduct periodic community health needs assessments. Opportunities thus exist for LHDs and tax-exempt hospitals to engage in collaborations related to CHAs. Yet, it remains unclear whether interest in PHAB accreditation provides incentive to LHDs to engage in …