Citation

Williams MD, Jean MC, Chen B, Molinari NM, LeBlanc TT. Am. J. Public Health 2017; 107(S2): S193-S198.

Affiliation

Marsha D. Williams is with the Healthcare Facilities and Medically Vulnerable Populations Unit, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Long Island City, NY. Marc C. Jean is with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Bei Chen, Noelle-Angelique M. Molinari, and Tanya T. LeBlanc are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Atlanta, GA. Tanya T. LeBlanc is also a guest editor for this supplement issue.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2017.303954

PMID

28892448

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network member sites reported indicators of preparedness for public health emergencies compared with nonmember sites. The network-a collaboration between government and New York City primary care associations-offers technical assistance to primary care sites to improve disaster preparedness and response.

METHODS: In 2015, we administered an online questionnaire to sites regarding facility characteristics and preparedness indicators. We estimated differences between members and nonmembers with natural logarithm-linked binomial models. Open-ended assessments identified preparedness gaps.

RESULTS: One hundred seven sites completed the survey (23.3% response rate); 47 (43.9%) were nonmembers and 60 (56.1%) were members. Members were more likely to have completed hazard vulnerability analysis (risk ratio [RR] = 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 2.93), to have identified essential services for continuity of operations (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.86), to have memoranda of understanding with external partners (RR = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.42, 4.36), and to have completed point-of-dispensing training (RR = 4.23; 95% CI = 1.76, 10.14). Identified preparedness gaps were improved communication, resource availability, and train-the-trainer programs. Public Health Implications. Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network membership is associated with improved public health emergency preparedness among primary care sites.

Language: en