Project Overview
The Healthcare Partners Emergency Preparedness Communications Project, hosted by the Center for Integrated Disaster Health Preparedness, will be conducted in three phases: National Research and Data Gathering, Introductory Webinars, and In-person Workshops. The information gathering phase will locate resources and compile data from similar initiatives in other states. The webinars will introduce the project, describe the goals, illustrate best practice models of regional collaboration, elicit feedback from participants and provide an opportunity to ask questions. The workshops will foster relationships among community healthcare partners by focusing on networking, education, communication, and resource and information sharing. The workshops will also be used to determine next steps for integrating community healthcare agencies with regional hospital facilities.
National Research and Data Gathering
In order to obtain an accurate operating picture of what other similar systems exist for community health preparedness initiatives, All Clear EMG has conducted national research with similar states in varying levels of planning. The lessons learned from other states and their systems will be included in the recommendations for Colorado’s health partners. Research was also conducted on means to best achieve needs assessments for community health preparedness in Colorado and how to build on existing preparedness activities.
Introductory Webinars
All Clear EMG will conduct four introductory webinars in early January 2011. The goals of these webinars are to introduce the project to the community health organizations, present an overview of what national models exist for community health emergency preparedness, and begin to gather information about what preparedness activities have taken place and what gaps still exist. Each of the four webinars will contain the same content including a PowerPoint Presentation and a series of in-webinar poll questions to gather immediate feedback. The webinars will also allow participants to ask clarifying questions in response to the provided material using a chat feature or phone connection.
Following the introductory webinars, an electronic survey will be distributed to community health agencies which will gather information on emergency preparedness and response measures currently in place and assess needs within the community health organizations of Colorado. Survey questions may inquire about emergency plans including evacuation and medical surge, emergency supplies and stockpiles, agreements with other agencies, hazard vulnerability assessments, communication methods, county or regional planning groups, and general demographic information about populations served and agency focus. The survey data will help to shape the in-person workshop agenda and materials to ensure the workshops meet the preparedness needs of the participating organizations.
In-Person Workshops
All Clear EMG will facilitate 12 one-day workshops in various locations across Colorado. The goals of the workshop are to begin the dialogue between community health organizations within each region, discuss what hazards and emergency preparedness gaps exist, share resources, and determine how to achieve comprehensive community health preparedness. These workshops will serve as the beginning stages to greater partnerships and the building of an emergency response network for community health agencies across Colorado.