Promoting Information Sharing for Multijurisdictional Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Objective: The objective was to assess the planning needs of emergency management and public health professionals to provide a flexible and comprehensive planning tool. Design: This study first assessed the needs of emergency management and public health professionals via an online survey. On the basis of results of the assessment, pertinent information was collected and organized into an online resource tool. Setting: The assessment was designed to address the needs of local, state, and federal government administrators working in emergency management and public health. The online tool was designed for use by any entity that functions to promote public health in the event of an emergency. Participants: Sixty-four participants completed the assessment survey. Seven states were represented. Most participants were senior-level administrators or management-level employees and were employed in public health, emergency, or bioterrorism preparedness, or in emergency medical services. Main Outcome Measure: Needs assessment for preparedness tools. Results: The results of the survey identified a need for increased access to information (especially concerning liability issues and authority to enter into agreements) and high levels of interest in the availability of an online planning tool. The majority (80.7%) of respondents indicated an ability to locate and quantify resources within their own jurisdiction but only about half (42.9%) could do the same for resources outside of their jurisdiction. Finally, 71.9% reported having no assessment tool to measure emergency capacity and limitations. Conclusions: Planning for cross-border and multijurisdictional emergencies depends on access to pertinent information and the feasibility of attaining such information. The creation of a comprehensive guide to multijurisdictional collaborations, with its self-assessment checklists, can easily provide such information to emergency. In addition, information sharing and increased collaboration can lead to increased utilization of emergency preparedness best practices.