Community Health Centers and Emergency Preparednes

Authors: Elizabeth Ablah Annie M Tinius Leslie Horn Chris Williams Kristine M Gebbie

Publish Date: 2008/04/01

Volume: 33, Issue: 4, Pages: 241-247

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Abstract

Community health centers CHCs provide care to a large number of medically underserved Americans As primary care providers and trusted members of their communities CHCs need to be prepared to respond to emergency and disaster situations as they may be relied upon for medical care and other support services Focus groups were conducted with CHC medical directors and administrators from New York City Participants discussed previous emergency preparedness training future training needs applicability of competencies and usefulness of two training programs Participants indicated that they had more experience with preparedness training than many of their colleagues although participants still reported further training needs In particular emergency roles and responsibilities decontamination and containment and personal preparedness were given as needed training topics for staff The training resources were reported to be useful and beneficial Participants also reported that most of the competencies were appropriate for CHC clinicians During an emergency people want to receive care from their normal provider and for many that provider is a CHC This and other research suggests that the emergency preparedness needs facing CHCs are significant and should be addressed

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