Presented by:

Regional Resource Center for Bioterrorism and Emergency Response, Albany Medical Center

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Regional Resource Center

Center for Public Health Preparedness, School of Public Health, University at Albany

Albany County Health Department

Speaker support from:

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

New York State Department of Health

Albany Medical Center

Center for Public Health Preparedness

Goal:
To give participants an opportunity to examine the impact of an influenza pandemic on their organization, their community and their community partners, and to begin planning responses.

Objectives for Participants:

1. To perceive the impact of a world-wide influenza outbreak
2. To recognize the immense planning needs
3. To identify potential solutions
4. To recognize the many legal and ethical issues
5. To facilitate interactions with other responders
6. To recognize established phases of a pandemic and perceived responses to each
7. To understand the importance and methodology of risk communication
8. To begin to prepare for larger, regional tabletops, exercises and drills

I. Morning Session

Registration and breakfast 8:00 – 9:00
Panel Presentations and Discussion 9:00 – 11:30

Moderator: Dr. Robert Westphal, CPHP

A. Avian Influenza: The State and Worldwide View
Dr. Barbara Wallace, New York State Dep’t. of Health (NYSDOH), Bureau of Communicable Disease Control
View slides: PowerPoint File   PDF document

B. Avian Influenza: A View from the Veterinary Perspective
Dr. Susan Trock, New York State Division of Agriculture & Markets
View Slides: PowerPoint File   PDF Document

C. Avian Influenza: Laboratory Issues
Dr. Jill Taylor, NYSDOH, Wadsworth Labs
View slides: PowerPoint File   PDF Document

D. Avian Influenza: The Hospital Response
Dr. Sarah Elmendorf & Ms. Rebecca O’Donnell, Albany Medical Center
View slides: PowerPoint File   PDF Document

E. Avian Influenza: Risk and Crisis Communication
Ms. Kristine Smith, NYSDOH, Office of Science & Public Health
View slides: PowerPoint File   PDF Document

F. Avian Influenza: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Prof. Alicia Ouellette, JD, Albany Law School
View slides: PowerPoint File    PDF Document

A general discussion and Q&A session followed the last presentation.

 

II. Afternoon Session 12:30 – 4:00

Facilitated Discussion, 12:30 – 2:45
Attendees broke into small groups as assigned at registration. All groups worked off of the same scenario which presented an avian influenza pandemic. Each group focused on specific questions and concerns within the larger topics given below.

There were facilitators for each group, which included many of the morning’s speakers.

Pandemic scenario group exercise material:

Facilitators guide—Instructions on the exercise objectives and mechanics:  Word     PDF

Group questions—A list of specific questions that each group addressed as the pandemic progressed:  Word   PDF

Scenario slides—An avian influenza pandemic scenario in four modules:  PowerPoint   PDF

 

Work Groups

1. Risk and Crisis Communication: working with the public and the media
Facilitators: Kristine Smith, Jill Taylor, Janelle Armstrong-Brown

2. Operational and Implementation Issues: logistics, isolation and quarantine; distributing treatment or prophylaxis
Facilitators: Perry Smith, Lindsay Benson, Mari Beth Miller

3. Interagency Issues: coordination among response partners, ICS/NIMS issues
Facilitators: Bryan Cherry, Kate Butler, Charles Welge, Mandy Slish

4. Surge Issues: clinical staff, support staff, ventilators, beds
Facilitators: Rebecca Odell, Kirsten St George, Lynn LaBarre

5. Resource Distribution: sharing personnel and material between agencies, between jurisdictions, across borders
Facilitators: Ed Waltz, Susan Trock, Kara Odell

 

III. Reporting out, and closure, 3:00 – 4:00

Two rapporteurs from each work group presented three key concerns for each of four modules of the pandemic scenario.

Transcription of the concerns identified by all the work groups (draft): Word     PDF

Pre-test Questionnaire: Word    PDF

Post-test and Evaluation: Word    PDF

 

Planning Committee:

University at Albany Center for Public Health Preparedness

Robert Westphal, M.D., MPH
Director
westphal@albany.edu

Eric Gebbie, MA., MIA.
Assistant Director
egebbie@uamail.albany.edu

Lindsay Benson, MPH
Public Health Educator
lbenson@uamail.albany.edu

Janelle Armstrong-Brown, MPH
Public Health Educator
jarmstrongbrown@uamail.albany.edu

Albany Medical Center Regional Resource Center for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness

Scott Heller
Director
hellers@mail.amc.edu

Kate Butler
butlerk@mail.amc.edu

Albany County Department of Health

Charles Welge
Senior Public Health Planner
cwelge@albanycounty.com

Kara Odell
Public Health Educator
kodell@albanycounty.com

Marcia Fabiano, MPH
Epidemiologist
mfabiano@albanycoutny.com

New York State Department of Health

Carol Killian, R.N.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Representative III
cak10@health.state.ny.us

 

Facilitators:

Kirsten St.George

Lynn LaBarre
Patient Care Service Director
Albany Medical Center

Bryan Cherry, VMD
New York State Department of Health Zoonoses Program

Ed Waltz, Ph.D
Associate Director
University at Albany Prevention Research Center

Perry Smith, M.D.
New York State Department of Health Division of Epidemiology

Mari Beth Miller
Director of Nursing
Albany County Department of Health