Preparing for the Next EbolaHow U.S. Public Health Experts Can Better Prepare for Future Global Health Security Threats

April 22, 2015

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SpeakersINTRODUCTION

Raphael Barishansky

Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Meghan Treber

Public Health Preparedness Expert

ICF International

Dan Hanfling

Contributing Scholar

UPMC Center for Health Security

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Ebola Continues to Spread TodayINTRODUCTION

Total suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, March 25, 2014 – April 15, 2015, by date of WHO Situation Report, n=25791Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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The 2014 Ebola outbreak was the largest in history

More than 25K suspected, probable and confirmed cases

More than 10K deaths

Affected 9 countries across West Africa, Europe and the U.S.

INTRODUCTION

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Ebola is not the first global infectious disease outbreak – and will not be the last

Preparing Healthcare Systems to Handle Emerging Infectious Disease

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“Every day without a pandemic is a day to prepare for the next pandemic.”

– Raphael Barishansky

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Preparing for outbreaks requires action now

Strengthen public health and primary health care systems

Enhance disease surveillance systems

Improve interconnectivity with lab systems

Support vaccine research

Implement response and recovery plans

PREPARING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

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Key capabilities for preparedness

Disease surveillance and communication systems

Training and education

Supplies needed

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PREPARING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

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PREPARING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

Establish and strengthen health care coalitions for more comprehensive preparation.

Partners encompassing all disciplines involved in outbreak response

– Emergency management– Law enforcement– Human services

Training Health Care Workers to Handle Infectious Disease Outbreaks

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“Hope is not a plan.” –

Raphael Barishansky(quoting a former colleague)

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Training is essential for outbreak preparedness

Ongoing training in infection control practices

Training in both universal precautions and specific disease considerations

Easy-to-read job action sheets and checklists

Detailed plans for day-to-day operations

TRAINING HEALTH CARE WORKERS

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More training develops safer practices

Workers should have plenty of practice, particularly with PPE

Focus on risk assessment to determine how much trainingis needed

Avoid ad hoc training -- focus on comprehensive, universal plans

TRAINING HEALTH CARE WORKERS

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Make health care personnel safety a priority

Ensure workers have the most up-to-date information available

Train staff in the proper use of equipment to increase comfort level

Empower workers to speak up when they feel unsure or uncomfortable

Allay fears with detailed plans, but be willing to admit what you do not know – and then take steps to fill information gaps

TRAINING HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Putting in Place Effective Public Information and Risk Communication Plans

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“In an emergency situation, people are looking for leadership.

And in the absence of genuine leadership they’ll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.”

– from the movie ‘The American President’

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Prioritize gaining public trust and calming panic

Engage elected and appointed officials

Make sure primary care providers and EMS have consistent messaging

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND RISK COMMUNICATION PLANS

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Challenge: Helping to alleviate existing mistrust in government to effectively communicate during outbreaks.

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND RISK COMMUNICATION PLANS

Reintroduce science into the political discourse

Identify and engage with trusted media early on

Implement an Elected Officials Toolkit, providing facts and science behind the outbreak

Make sure every community has a media spokesperson

Implement training for on-camera comfort and communications tips

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Thank You

To listen to the webinar replay, visit:icfi.com/NextEbolaRec

For more information on Global Health Security, visit: icfi.com/GHSecurity

For more information, contact: Mike Greenwell, Michael.Greenwell@icfi.com

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