Exercises - PH 463: Preparedness Planning

In addition to a variety of learning activities, there are 3 instructor-evaluated activities associated with PH 463: (1) complete the individual exercise; (2) participate in a multi-learner conferencing exercise; and (3) complete and submit the assessment quiz. Each of these is explained below.

Learning Activities (Note: these ARE NOT to be submitted!)

A series of individual learning exercises for this module are provided below. Completing these exercises will familiarize you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that relate to the competency expectation for this module that is described above. Note that learners are not required to submit written response for these learning exercises. Completing these exercises, however, will prepare you for components of this module that are assessed and scored.

  1. The basic content for PH 463 is provided in the web-based sources identified in the learning activities listed below as well as the following resources:
  2. Why should public health organizations take a leadership role in emergency and disaster planning?
  3. Why is the process of planning more important than the written plan itself? Describe the "paper plan" syndrome and how it can detract from public health emergency preparedness. Identify factors contributing to disaster and other public health emergency planning apathy.
  4. Review the case study, Exercise Bio-Threat: Biological Preparedness - Bison County, North Dakota. Were all the appropriate entities involved in planning this exercise? In what ways would this exercise have been different if these other entities had been involved? What recommendations would you offer to improve the planning for this exercise?
  5. What is meant by the term "surge capacity" and how is this addressed in public health emergency response plans?
  6. Describe three or more elements of public health statues that are important elements of public health emergency response plans.
  7. In the report, Local Centers for Public Health Preparedness: Models for Strengthening Local Public Health Capacity, what are the major components of effective local preparedness for local health departments?
  8. Review the Local Health Jurisdiction Capacity for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response document. What other capacity categories or additions to the action steps within the various categories would you suggest to improve this document?

Evaluated Activities (Note: these ARE to be submitted!)

(1) Individual Exercise

Each learner will submit a brief response to the following exercise. Produce your response on a separate document to be uploaded at the "Submit Assignments" link. Please use "PH 463 Individual Exercises" as the title of your submission.

Based on your current position and/or interests (that is state-level or local-level), review the Public Health Emergency Response Guide for State, Local and Tribal Public Health Directors (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/responseguide.asp). Based on your review of this resource, and after reviewing the responses of other learners, identify three important needs that exist in your state or local jurisdiction. Your posting should be brief (less than 500 words) and include arguments, evidence and rationale to support your input.

(2) Conferencing Exercise

For this multi-learner conferencing exercise, produce your response on a separate document to be uploaded at the "Submit Assignments" link. Please use "PH 463 Conferencing Exercises" as the title of your submission.

Review the case study, A Haze over Hickernoodle City: Biodefense Readiness in a Community. Then, briefly identify evidence from this case study that indicates the local disaster plan needs to be revised. How could the governmental agencies in this case study have better coordinated their response to this public health emergency? How could coordination be extended to private and voluntary sector entities, including hospitals and ambulance service providers? What improvements are most needed? Submit a brief (100-200 words) response to this question after reviewing the responses of other learners. Your submission should include arguments, evidence and rationale to support your input.

(3) Assessment Quiz

Follow the LearningSpace link to the Assessment Quiz. You may be asked for your login ID and password to access the quiz through your Preparedness Center Personal Page. Complete the quiz and submit your responses. You make take the quiz several times.

Course Evaluation: All learners are asked to electronically complete a Course Evaluation Questionnaire; this is available to you as an electronic form and will be transmitted to a data base without your identity being known, and your instructor will have no way to link your identity to your comments. Before participating in these course evaluation activities, students should review the specific learning objectives established for this course (and others you may have taken as part of this series); these are available in the Syllabus. Evaluation of the course should focus on the extent to which these objectives were achieved.

PH 463 Exercises last revised August 01, 2006 (csong)