Developing an Emergency Action Plan for the Global Disease Detection Regional Center in Thailand Open Access

Abstract

Developing an Emergency Action Plan for the Global Disease Detection Regional Center in Thailand

By Alleen R. Weathers

In 2010, the International Emergency Preparedness Team (IEPT) from CDC Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia performed an emergency preparedness gap analysis of the CDC Global Disease Detention Regional Center in Thailand (TUC). The assessment highlighted the fact that TUC did not have a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plan. Thus, in an effort to improve on the emergency preparedness of the TUC, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was drafted through collaboration between TUC program directors, IEPT members, and an Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health student researcher.

Information for the EAP was gathered through review of pre-existing TUC-specific emergency literature, observation, and interviews. Questions related to the activities that would have to be performed in preparation for and during an emergency were generated and used to illicit information in interviews with program directors and various subject matter experts (SMEs). The information was compiled into activity lists for the EAP. Once the accuracy of the activity lists was confirmed by the SMEs, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were created. The SOPs provide bulleted step-by-step instruction for completing activities.

The TUC's EAP contains 132 emergency preparedness and response activities. SOPs are still being developed for over 100 of these activities. Trainings, plan, drills, and exercises will be needed to ensure the EAP is understood and used during an emergency. Having a well-developed and practiced plan will help the TUC respond to future emergencies.

Table of Contents

Abstractiv

Acknowledgements vi

Chapter 1: Introduction to Thailand and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Global Disease Detection Regional Center in Thailand (TUC) 1

Background....... 1

Introduction to National Emergency Preparedness.... 1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emergency.... 2

Preparedness.... 2

Overview of the CDC and Thailand's Ministry of Public Health Relationship.... 3

Disasters and Emergency Preparedness in Thailand.... 4

Disasters and TUC.... 6

CDC's Solution to TUC's Emergency Preparedness Needs....... 7

Purpose Statement....... 8

Research Aims of TUC's Emergency Action Plan....... 8

Emergency Action Plan's Significance....... 8

Chapter 2: Literature Review 10

Overview....... 10

Section 1: Emergency Planning....... 10

Emergency Planning Steps.... 10

Step 1: Creating the Planning Committee 11

Step 2: Assessing Risk and Determining Vulnerability 11

Risk Assessment........ 11

Vulnerability........ 12

Step 3: Developing an Activities List(s) and Standard Operating Procedures 13

Activities Lists........ 13

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)........ 15

Step 4: Determine Roles and Responsibilities 15

Step 5: Analyzing Resources 16

Step 6: Review Management Structure 17

Step 7: Record the Planning Process 17

The Eight Principles of Emergency Planning .... 18

Section 2: Challenges of Emergency Planning....... 20

Limited Funds.... 20

Lack of Data and Language Uniformity.... 21

Difficulty in Assessing the Impact of Emergency Planning.... 22

Lack of Public Education.... 22

Section 3: Application of this Knowledge in TUC's EAP....... 23

Summary....... 23

Chapter 3: TUC's EAP Document 25

Overview of TUC's EAP Contents....... 25

Sections of the EAP....... 25

Situation.... 25

Mission.... 26

Execution.... 26

Figure 1: Common Activities for All TUC Staff members........ 28

Figure 2: SOP for "Have Updated Copy of Departmental Phone Tree"........ 29

Administration, Resources, and Funding.... 29

Oversight, Coordination, and Communication.... 30

Attachments.... 30

Examples of Attachments 31

Incident Review Timeline........ 31

Incident Review Checklist........ 31

Annexes.... 32

EAP Content Summary....... 33

Chapter 4: Methodology 34

Prior to departure for Thailand....... 34

In Thailand....... 35

Development of Execution Section.... 35

Collection of Observational Data.... 37

Prior to departure from Thailand....... 37

Post-departure....... 38

Remaining Actions....... 38

Internal Review Board Note....... 39

Chapter 5: Conclusion 40

Reflections on the Development of TUC's EAP....... 40

Summary....... 42

Recommendations....... 42

Acronyms46

Glossary of Terms 47

Final Note52

Appendix53

Media Communication Standard Protocols........... 53

Annexes....... 54

Infectious Disease Emergency.... 54

Biosafety.... 54

Bomb.... 54

Civil Unrest.... 54

Communication Systems.... 54

Fire Emergency.... 55

Reduction to Critical TUC staff members.... 55

TUC/MOPH Perimeter Breach.... 55

Tremors and Earthquakes.... 55

Continuity of TUC Operations amidst U.S. Employee Evacuation.... 55

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health
Keyword	disaster response emergency action plan emergency preparedness emergency operational plan standard operating procedure emergency planning risk assessment FEMA emergency management CDC vulnerability assessment
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Martel, Lise D., Emory University
Committee Members	Frant, Emily, CDC
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs CDC

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