Continuity of Operations Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP): Plan (COOP): Preparing Preparing for the Unknownfor the Unknown

APHL 2006 Annual MeetingAPHL 2006 Annual Meeting

Tony Sambol, MA, SM(NRM), Tony Sambol, MA, SM(NRM), Assistant Director, Assistant Director, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory Nebraska Public Health Laboratory

Why COOP ?Why COOP ?

Because we have Because we have specialized functionsspecialized functions……....

SPHL Core FunctionsSPHL Core FunctionsSPHLs should accomplish the following SPHLs should accomplish the following 11 core functions as part of their 11 core functions as part of their organizational capacity:organizational capacity:

•• disease prevention, control, surv. ; disease prevention, control, surv. ; •• integrated data management; integrated data management; •• reference and specialized testing; reference and specialized testing; •• environmental health and protection;environmental health and protection;•• food safety;food safety;•• laboratory improvement and regulation; laboratory improvement and regulation; •• policy development; policy development; •• emergency response;emergency response;•• public healthpublic health--related research; related research; •• training and education; and training and education; and •• partnerships and communication.partnerships and communication.

Continuity of Operations Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)Plan (COOP)

•• The primary objective of the COOP is to The primary objective of the COOP is to establish policies and procedures to be establish policies and procedures to be used in the event of an used in the event of an interruption of interruption of service to a SPHL. service to a SPHL.

•• Allows a SPHL to respond or react to an Allows a SPHL to respond or react to an event or emergency, event or emergency, restoring the most restoring the most timetime--sensitive operations,sensitive operations, and eventually, and eventually, recovering to full functional capacity are recovering to full functional capacity are goals that are encompassed in the plan. goals that are encompassed in the plan.

Continuity of Operations Continuity of Operations PlanPlan-- ConceptsConcepts

•• A COOP is not a oneA COOP is not a one--time project with an time project with an established start and end date. Rather, it is established start and end date. Rather, it is a a living documentliving document whereby it is essential whereby it is essential that information and action plans in the that information and action plans in the COOP remain viable and current. It should COOP remain viable and current. It should be tested, at a minimum, of once a year, or be tested, at a minimum, of once a year, or at a greater frequency as determined by at a greater frequency as determined by management. management.

•• TheseThese plans contain the critical plans contain the critical information neededinformation needed to to respond and recoverrespond and recoverfrom a disruption.from a disruption.

Why is a COOP needed?Why is a COOP needed?

•• The primary objective of the The primary objective of the COOP is to establish policies COOP is to establish policies and procedures to be used in and procedures to be used in the event of an the event of an interruption of interruption of service to a SPHL caused byservice to a SPHL caused by…….. ..

California Earthquake, California Earthquake, 19891989

Missouri Flooding, 1993Missouri Flooding, 1993

North Carolina Ice Storm, 2002North Carolina Ice Storm, 2002

Nebraska Tornado, 2005Nebraska Tornado, 2005

Louisiana HurricaneLouisiana Hurricane-- Katrina, 2005Katrina, 2005

1918 Flu Epidemic Emergency 1918 Flu Epidemic Emergency Hospital, Camp Funston, KansasHospital, Camp Funston, Kansas

Photo Courtesy of National Museum of Health and Medicine,Armed FPhoto Courtesy of National Museum of Health and Medicine,Armed Forces Institute of Pathologyorces Institute of Pathology

Up to a 40% reduction in workforce?

Laboratory testing needs – will increased capacity be needed ?

SPHLSPHL

Considerations for COOPConsiderations for COOP

1.1. MOUMOU’’s or MUAs or MUA’’s with local s with local laboratorieslaboratories

2.2. MOUMOU’’s or MUAs or MUA’’s with state s with state partnerspartners

3.3. MOUMOU’’S or MUAS or MUA’’s with s with regional partnersregional partners

4.4. TimelinesTimelines--•• First 24 to 72 hoursFirst 24 to 72 hours•• 72 hours to ???72 hours to ???•• Long termLong term-- weeks to monthsweeks to months

Considerations for COOPConsiderations for COOP

1.1. MOUMOU’’s or MUAs or MUA’’s with local s with local laboratorieslaboratories•• Hospital laboratories that do Hospital laboratories that do

same or similarsame or similar diagnostic diagnostic testingtesting•• Specimen ID and workSpecimen ID and work--upup•• Susceptibility testingSusceptibility testing•• Special ChemistrySpecial Chemistry

Considerations for COOPConsiderations for COOP

2. 2. MOUMOU’’s or MUAs or MUA’’s with state s with state partnerspartners•• In Nebraska for BT/CTIn Nebraska for BT/CT--

•• NDA Food LaboratoryNDA Food Laboratory•• NHHSS Water Testing LaboratoryNHHSS Water Testing Laboratory

•• Soon to have a BSLSoon to have a BSL--33•• UNL Veterinary Science UNL Veterinary Science

LaboratoryLaboratory•• Sentinel LaboratorySentinel Laboratory proceduresprocedures

Considerations for COOPConsiderations for COOP

3.3. MOUMOU’’S or MUAS or MUA’’s with s with regional partnersregional partners•• Specialized testingSpecialized testing done only done only

by SPHLsby SPHLs•• Newborn screeningNewborn screening•• SalmonellaSalmonella spp. serotypingspp. serotyping

•• Specialized BT/CT testing done Specialized BT/CT testing done only by SPHLsonly by SPHLs•• C. botulinum C. botulinum toxin testingtoxin testing•• Variola major virus (smallpox) Variola major virus (smallpox)

testingtesting

Mid America Alliance Mid America Alliance (MAA)(MAA)

Mutual assistance for public health Mutual assistance for public health emergency preparednessemergency preparedness

What is the Mid America What is the Mid America Alliance:Alliance:

Purpose:

• Develop a framework for providing mutual assistancebetween states during a public health crisis that does not initiate a governor declaration of emergency

• Augment EMAC regionally

IdentifyIdentify and plan for and plan for sharingsharing of of public health public health ““resourcesresources”” that can that can be offered by one or more states be offered by one or more states

for the benefit of their for the benefit of their neighborsneighbors…………. Regional COOP . Regional COOP

planning.planning.

The work of the MAA:The work of the MAA:

PLANNING for regional PH PLANNING for regional PH assistance & RESPONSE.assistance & RESPONSE.

Examples of need for Examples of need for assistanceassistance from from

neighboring states:neighboring states:•• Laboratory Laboratory

•• Anthrax in regional US mailAnthrax in regional US mail•• West Nile virus in adjacent states 2003West Nile virus in adjacent states 2003•• Pertussis in North Dakota 2005Pertussis in North Dakota 2005

•• EpidemiologyEpidemiology•• Mumps Outbreak 2006Mumps Outbreak 2006•• North Dakota North Dakota -- Anhydrous ammonia spill Anhydrous ammonia spill

20032003•• Nebraska Nebraska -- Outbreak of vaccine Outbreak of vaccine

preventable disease in rural area 1999preventable disease in rural area 1999•• Hepatits A in Pennsylvania 2004Hepatits A in Pennsylvania 2004

•• Cross border eventsCross border events(metropolitan areas)(metropolitan areas)

Considerations for COOPConsiderations for COOP

4. 4. TimelinesTimelines--•• First 24 to 48 to 72 hoursFirst 24 to 48 to 72 hours•• 72 hours to ???72 hours to ???•• Long termLong term-- weeks to monthsweeks to months

•• Specimen shipmentsSpecimen shipments•• Personnel issuesPersonnel issues•• Results reportingResults reporting-- data exchangedata exchange•• Differences in state regulationsDifferences in state regulations

Building Sound Public Health Building Sound Public Health Infrastructure and COOP Planning IS Infrastructure and COOP Planning IS Good Domestic PreparednessGood Domestic Preparedness

Investing in Resources

Developing Capacity

Developing Policy & Procedure; COOP Planning

Planning Training

Exercising

X4X4--RR

Oct, Oct, 2003 2003

APHL Brief: Bioterrorism APHL Brief: Bioterrorism Capacity, May 2006Capacity, May 2006

Continuity of Operations Plan:Continuity of Operations Plan:

•• 19 of 50 respondents (38%) indicated 19 of 50 respondents (38%) indicated that they have a COOP in placethat they have a COOP in place

•• 14 (28%) have no COOP but are included 14 (28%) have no COOP but are included in their statein their state’’s COOP s COOP

•• 17 (34%) of SPHLs 17 (34%) of SPHLs do notdo not have a COOP in have a COOP in place and their overall state plan does place and their overall state plan does not address COOP for laboratory not address COOP for laboratory operations.operations.

APHL Emergency Planning APHL Emergency Planning & Response Committee& Response Committee

•• COOP SubcommitteeCOOP Subcommittee--•• Drafting of a COOP Drafting of a COOP GuidelineGuideline for for

SPHL based on 11 eleven core SPHL based on 11 eleven core functions. It is intended to be a functions. It is intended to be a guideline guideline andand not a plannot a plan because because the plans have to be laboratory the plans have to be laboratory specific. specific.