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Interim Public Health and Healthcare Supplement to the National Preparedness Goal (NPG)
Title: Interim Public Health and Healthcare Supplement to the National Preparedness Goal (NPG)
Date: December 15, 2005
Institution: Department of Health and Human Services
Bibliographic Entry: US Department of Health and Human Services. (December 15, 2005) "Interim Public Health and Healthcare Supplement to the National Preparedness Goal." United States Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/npgs.html (accessed February 21, 2007).
Electronic Link: http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/npgs.html
Key Words: public health, bio-weapon, food defense
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
This supplement is written in response to the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 which discusses the need to protect supplies of food, medicines, and associated infrastructures in preparation for a potential terrorist attack or other public health emergency. This effort emphasizes the preparation of national, state, and local healthcare readiness against the use of biological, radiological, and chemical threats. This report directs performance measures that outline time standards for reporting possible mass casualty events, relaying information and instructions to the public, collection and dissemination of samples for laboratory analysis, and mass treatment. This plan directs the amount of surge capacity and isolation required and timeline based upon metropolitan population. Local public health organizations are required to register volunteer healthcare professionals for augmentation, identify healthcare risks for high impact scenarios, and establish transport capabilities.
This supplement also outlines measures required at federal, state, and local levels for the protection of the food supply. Public health officials must be able to communicate with federal, state, and local officials as well as industry stakeholders to access information during a possible terrorist attack or disease outbreak. Often public health officials may be the first to recognize an attack or outbreak of disease in the food supply.
This supplement also outlines the need for additional planning in national bio-surveillance, stockpiling of medical countermeasures, and the protection of critical infrastructure for healthcare emergency response. However, it simply states that these areas are currently under development.
Name of Researcher: Aaron Martin
Institution: Texas A&M University
Date: February 21, 2007
Date Posted: July 18, 2007