Emergency preparedness

Publications

Alphabetical list. You can also view by publication date.

• Attention from the Top? Roles of State Offices of Rural Health Policy in Preparing for Bioterrorism and Other Health System Emergencies
  Date: 07 / 2006
  Author(s): Curt D. Mueller, A. Ketchel, L. Silver
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topic: Emergency preparedness
  Presents results from a follow-up survey of directors of state offices of rural health on emergency preparedness in rural communities. A telephone survey was used to identify state office involvement with emergency preparedness (EP) activities. Findings indicate that the nature of involvement varied considerably across states. Among the most pressing needs were for improvements in communication and for additional EP training, especially for EMS and hospital personnel. Most offices were involved in activities related to development of an emergency preparedness response plan encompassing the state (71 percent) or development of a plan for regions within the state (55 percent). Over half of state office directors reported involvement in assessment of training needs of emergency personnel and in assessing EP of rural hospitals. Almost half of state offices participated in assessment of rural public health system preparedness capabilities. Sixty-one percent of offices assisted in development of capabilities for the electronic exchange of information among health care providers and public health officials serving rural areas, and 48 percent of rural offices were engaged in activities in support of development of a system for receipt of urgent reports or information by providers on a 24-hour-7-day basis.
• Perspectives Of Rural Hospitals On Bioterrorism Preparedness Planning
  Date: 04 / 2004
  Author(s): Claudia L. Schur, Marc L. Berk, Curt D. Mueller
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topics: Emergency preparedness, Hospitals and clinics
  Report Number: Policy Analysis Brief W Series No. 4
  Representatives from several rural hospitals met to discuss various aspects of bioterrorist preparedness in terms of workforce and training, physical capacity and supplies, communication, and coordination with other entities. Three main themes emerged from the discussion: 1) Bioterrorism resources have the potential to improve the rural health care delivery system, 2) A "cookie-cutter" model does not work for rural hospitals, and 3) Strategies for coping with a bioterrorist event need to be practical and have dual use.
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Rural Primary Care: Improving Care for Mental Health Following Bioterrorism
  Date: 2006
  Author(s): Jennie C. I. Tsao, Aram Dobalian, Brenda A. Wiens, Julius A. Gylys, Garret D. Evans
  Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
  Topics: Emergency preparedness, Mental health
  Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 22(1), 78-82
  Describes the need to educate rural primary care providers who will be the frontline providers of mental health services following bioterrorism, given the limited availability of tertiary mental health care in rural communities.
• PTSD and Substance Use: Unrecognized Sequelae of Bioterrorism in Primary Care Providers
  Date: 2006
  Author(s): Jennie C. I. Tsao, Aram Dobalian, Brenda A. Wiens, Julius A. Gylys, Art Clawson, Robert Brooks
  Research center: ORHP-funded Individual Grantees
  Topics: Emergency preparedness, Mental health, Public health, Substance abuse
  Citation: Southern Medical Journal, 99(8), 817-822
  Reports the results of a study that looked at rural primary care providers' knowledge of likely mental disorders, their risk factors, and preferred treatment options following a public health emergency.
• Spontaneous Evacuation Following a Dirty Bomb or Pandemic Influenza: Highlights from a National Survey of Urban Residents’ Intended Behavior
  Date: 11 / 2007
  Author(s): Michael Meit, Thomas Briggs, Alene Kennedy, Janet Sutton, Jacob Feldman
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topic: Emergency preparedness
  Report Number: W Series No. 12
  Reports results of a national survey to assess the evacuation intentions of urban citizens following emergency scenarios. Includes information on how likely it would be for evacuees to go to a rural or urban area. Discusses the potential impact of an urban evacuation on rural areas.
• Understanding The Role Of The Rural Hospital Emergency Department In Responding To Bioterrorist Attacks And Other Emergencies: A Review Of The Literature And Guide To The Issues
  Date: 04 / 2004
  Author(s): Claudia L. Schur
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topics: Emergency medical services (EMS), Emergency preparedness, Hospitals and clinics
  Reviews issues affecting rural hospitals' level of readiness for bioterrorist attack. Issues examined include physical capacity, sufficiency of health personnel, preparedness plans, disease surveillance systems, and communication/coordination. Concerns about funding cut across all the issues of preparedness.
• Urban-to-Rural Evacuation: Planning for Population Surge (Final Report)
  Date: 08 / 2008
  Author(s): Michael Meit, Alene Kennedy, Thomas Briggs
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topic: Emergency preparedness
  To date, rural emergency planning efforts have focused more on addressing the needs of rural residents and have not accounted for potential population surge from neighboring urban areas in the event of disaster. In many areas, rural infrastructure and capacities are likely to be stretched thin or possibly overwhelmed. This study assessed the likelihood of urban evacuation to rural areas and provides recommendations for rural planning and response.
• Urban-to-Rural Evacuation: Planning for Population Surge (Policy Brief)
  Date: 04 / 2007
  Author(s): Michael Meit, Alene Kennedy, Thomas Briggs
  Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
  Topic: Emergency preparedness
  Report Number: Policy Analysis Brief W Series No. 9
  Discusses disaster planning and how rural preparedness officials face significant informational, organizational, and infrastructural constraints in their abilities to prepare for a potential population surge from urban areas.