Enhancing BioWatch Capabilities Through Technology and Collaboration Proceedings of a Workshop (2017) / Chapter Skim
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5 Future Opportunities for State and Local Collaboration
5 Future Opportunities for State and Local Collaboration
Pages 63-70
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From page 63... ...
In Georgia, said Wendy Smith, the state health department has deemed preparedness and homeland security as a high-priority issue, which means her agency is always open to partnering with other agencies on special projects. For example, over the past 5 years or so, the department of public health has worked collaboratively with the state's civil support team on different complex laboratory exercises, including one that started with a simulated BioWatch Actionable Result (BAR)
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From page 64... ...
She said she would advocate for everyone to reach out to the local Secret Service office and local postal facilities. She recounted how during the 2001 anthrax attacks, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency was sitting next to the Postmaster General at one meeting, something she never thought she would ever see given the perceived gap between their respective work.
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From page 65... ...
Gordon-Hagerty suggested that Forzley ask OHA to reach out to the state to explain why the BioWatch laboratory should be closer to the state program offices. Forzley also suggested that DHS should consider that local public health agencies have tremendous capacity beyond traditional disease surveillance and could provide intelligence in real time that could overcome some of the data lags associated with normal surveillance.
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From page 66... ...
Yes, said Romanosky, and he pointed to a link that now exists between the federal emergency planning grant program and the hospital preparedness grant program as a valuable example. Sandy Wedgeworth said her program benefits from a 3 percent public health–related carve-out from Long Beach's Urban Area Security Initiative grant because prior to establishing that carve-out, the police and fire departments would outvote public health, and her program would be lucky to get any funds from that grant.
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From page 67... ...
He noted that in San Antonio the relevant agency for companion animals is the Animal Care Department, which is alert to cases of rabies and could be a useful partner. Wedgeworth said the Long Beach Animal Care Services department works closely with BioWatch and provides regular updates on anything having to do with rodents and bats in the city.
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From page 68... ...
Romanosky said he would like to have a public information guide that he could provide to his public information officers that would inform them about the program and give them advice on how to answer certain questions or who to approach to get answers to questions. He would also like DHS to provide some ideas on decision-making triggers for developing a scalable or flexible public health response to a BAR.
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From page 69... ...
Her worry is that in today's social media environment, something like the Government Accountability Office report and the negative message it conveyed about BioWatch not working could spread rapidly and make it difficult to reassure people that a situation was not dangerous. Romanosky added that BioWatch needs to do more to counter the negative impressions about the program that have been conveyed in the media.
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