Dissertation Defenses

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Mina Zadeh

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: The Evaluation Center

Title: Evaluating Country, State, and Local Emergency Preparedness Plans through Conducting Exercises

Committee:
Dr. Patricia Reeves, Chair
Dr. Michael Scriven
Dr. Liliana Rodriguez-Compos

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
4410 Ellsworth Hall

Abstract:
The dissertation titled intends to provide guidance evaluating emergency preparedness plans using emergency preparedness exercises. The author believes that emergency preparedness exercises are a method of evaluating emergency preparedness plans because these exercises provide information about value, significance, and worth of the implemented program. As such, the terms “exercises” and “evaluations” are used interchangeably in this document.

Evaluations/exercises provide opportunities for entities to identify vulnerabilities within, and improve upon, existing emergency preparedness, response, and recovery infrastructures. Evaluations/exercises also can serve as a gateway to initiate and/or continue discussions among individuals/ organizations to clarify roles and responsibilities and become more prepared to respond and recover from a potential emergency event.

The author created template scenarios for exercising/evaluating different components of human pandemic influenza plans. These components can include: (1) Disease Surveillance; (2) Laboratory Capacity; (3) Healthcare Planning and Infection Control; (4) Antiviral/Vaccine Distribution/Dispensing; (5) Community Disease Control and Prevention; (6) Workforce Support; (7) Food Supply Limitations; (8) Transportation Limitations; (9) Communication; (10) Collaboration; and (11) Status of Exercises. The author compiled this list from extensive research using document from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization (WHO). Each scenario described provides a checklist (evaluation checklist) of items that should be addressed while evaluating/exercising the component. The intended audience includes influenza preparedness officials at the country, state, city, and local health department levels and, officials who are responsible for emergency preparedness for other natural and/or man-made emergencies/disaster (e.g., avian influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, flood, and earthquakes).

The author developed the majority of the content of this document while serving as a Consultant on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness to the WHO, Office for the Mediterranean Region (EMRO), Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA), in Cairo, Egypt. Multiple entities within the United Nations and country officials in ERMO have approved the content of the work. As of mid-2009, WHO planned to pilot the draft the document in several EMRO countries.

1Michael Scriven, Definition of Evaluation

2EMRO serves 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Available online at http://www.emro.who.int/emrinfo/index.asp?Ctry=afg. Accessed September 27, 2009.