PH System Capacity/
PH Worker Competency
Examples
During a measles outbreak, a small department of health may use a regional or state level laboratory for measles titer testing.
During a large scale weather event, a department of health without environmental health staff may call on their state or regional office to supervise temporary food service activities, and follow up with all food establishments following the emergency to assure that items not maintained at appropriate temperatures are discarded.
In order for public health to be prepared to respond to the variety of emergency events that may befall our nation (including natural, technological and human-caused), it needs a system to assure that the core functions of public health (assessment, policy development and assurance) continue. For public health, during an emergency response the core functions are assured through the availability of the following core system capacities:
- Information
- Communication
- Epidemiology / surveillance
- Laboratory
- Policy and evaluation
- Preparedness and response
- Workforce that is competent to perform usual and emergency response roles
Because not every department of health has the resources for extensive capacity in each of these areas on a day-to-day basis, many may rely on regional or state capacity for assistance during an emergency event. For effective emergency planning and response, each department of health must have a plan and mechanism in place to be able to readily secure each of the system capacities that may be needed during an emergency. These plans and agreements for aid should be made in advance.