What are the ways of addressing a new and virulent contagious disease?

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The Threat of SARS Case Study

 

Based on your understanding of the SARS case study, create a 2- to 3-page document in Microsoft Word document answering the following questions:

 

  • In your opinion, what could be the possible reasons of a sudden outbreak of new disease?
  • What are the ways of addressing a new and virulent contagious disease?
  • Discuss in detail about the countries which have faced epidemics in the past. What would have been the possible reasons for such outbreaks?

 

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

 

Notes from class

 

At a global scale, health crises may be even more difficult to manage owing to several complexities. This is when the infection rates from super-resistant bacteria have increased throughout the world, and humans travel in unprecedented numbers and at a very fast pace. For example, transmitting primarily through the hands of health care workers, the SARS virus—having first appeared in the Guangdong Province of China in late 2002—spread within a few months to over twenty five countries, infecting over 8,000 people and causing 774 deaths, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are several opportunities for such incidents to quickly escalate to crises levels.

Public health emergencies may come from several other sectors as well. In its website, the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lists four major kinds of emergencies:

  • Oil or chemical spills
  • Biohazard or infectious disease
  • Food safety issues
  • Terrorism or criminal activity

It is very likely that all of these emergencies will require health care emergency managers to plan and prepare for contingencies.

The outcome of how a crisis is managed is largely dependent on the knowhow, experience, and the personality of the manager. No matter how much planning is done and protocol followed, emergency managers need to have strong leadership qualities in order to handle crises. Having a working knowledge of the health care field is also critical in this context. During an emergent health crisis, the manager needs to coordinate between various groups, communicate decisively and clearly in order to avoid panic, and optimize the distribution of resources.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Paper (ACA)

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Professionals working in public health have a responsibility to the welfare of others that goes beyond service to individuals.  As developing professionals with some expertise in human behavior, research and mental health, you need to consider your responsibility to the larger community.  Government policy affects individuals in many ways.  Laws and public programs affect nearly every aspect of life:  education, criminal justice, housing, health care, urban violence, media, mental health policy and so forth.  As developing leaders of this society, you will at some point have the responsibility to help shape public policy.  Your assignment now is to choose a pending bill in the state or federal legislature.  You can review pending legislation by visiting legislative or advocacy websites related to mental health policy, and formulate a well-written letter to the legislator or other government or institutional official of your choice.   You can advocate for the bill or oppose it.  Topics may include, but are not limited to managed care, deinstitutionalization, access to mental health services, the escalating cost of mental health care, supported employment for mental health clients, the use of non-physician providers in mental health services, effects of television violence, etc.

The letter should be 3-4 pages long, double-spaced.  You will not be evaluated on the nature of your opinion, but on the quality of your argument and the relevance of any research you cite.  State clearly what you are asking the official to do and base your comments on reputable research.  After your letter is reviewed, you will be expected to mail it and share any response with the class.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Paper (ACA)

The third short paper (4 to 5 pages, double-spaced) will be on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and/or Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act.  Your paper should be on some aspect of implementation and how it is impacting persons with mental health issues.  You must refer to class readings in your paper and to other information you find in peer-reviewed journals and/or the popular press. Do not rely solely on articles in the popular press but use them to supplement peer-reviewed articles. You will need to include 6-8 citations for A level work. Again, APA format should be used with the same caveats as above. Points will also be deducted for grammatical and spelling errors

Describe, in brief, the health issue in the case study as well as the response methods to the health issue in chronological order

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Assignment 3—Waterborne Outbreak of Cryptosporidium Infections

Public health response is crucial in the event of an infectious disease outbreak to reduce the number of people infected and to reduce the spread of disease. In outbreaks of a large magnitude, miscommunication between local, state, and federal agencies can delay the response and the effectiveness of the treatment.

Review the case study in the chapter “The Massive Waterborne Outbreak of Cryptosporidium Infections, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1993” in your textbook.

 

Write a 2 single spaced page report in Microsoft Word format to include the following:

  • Describe, in brief, the health issue in the case study as well as the response methods to the health issue in chronological order.
  • Evaluate the case study for appropriateness of response by both local and state officials.
  • Rate the readiness and proficiency of the city health officials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Suggest more effective response methods for the public health response in this case study.

Support your statements with appropriate examples and scholarly references.

 

Assignment 3 Grading Criteria Maximum Points
Described the health issue in the case study as well as the response methods to the health issue in chronological order. 10
Evaluated the case study for appropriateness of response by both local and state officials. 15
Rated the readiness and proficiency of the city health officials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10
Suggested more effective response methods for the public health response. 10
Used correct spelling, grammar, and professional vocabulary. Cited all sources using the APA format. 5
Total 50

Why is the use of an ICS in a hospital important when dealing with a bioterrorist attack?

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Preparing for a bioterrorist attack presents unique challenges in the United States. There are no real wide-scale events you can study to prepare for a bioterrorist attack. In the absence of this experiential knowledge, training exercises are often used. Answer the following questions regarding the training exercises for preparation for bioterrorist attack:

  • Why are training exercises important in planning for a bioterrorist attack? How would you use training exercises to help prepare the staff of a hospital from a bioterrorist attack?
  • What are the benefits of real-life training scenarios involving multiple agencies?
  • Using the Internet, research on Amtrak’s “Operation Rail Safe” program. Would hospitals and medical centers benefit from a program of this nature to aid in their preparation?

Triage is a process developed by the military to cope with large number of victims of combat or disaster situations. In many disaster situations, it becomes necessary to triage patients in order to assess their medical needs and decide how to allocate the resources and staff available to treat the incoming patients. Using the Internet, research on nerve agent “sarin” and answer the following questions in regard to the above process:

  • What criteria would you use in the emergency room to triage patients with potential exposure to the nerve agent sarin?
  • How would you classify the incoming patients when triaging them? Why?

You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of a major hospital. A bioterrorist attack just occurred in your city. The ICS has been activated. Despite the infusion of this additional money provided by the government after the event of September 11, 2001, to the healthcare industry, in an effort to prepare the industry for a possible bioterrorist attack, some people feel that the healthcare industry in US is still unprepared for a bioterrorist attack. As a CEO, you need to assess the situation and prepare your hospital to deal with the situation.

Answer the following questions keeping in mind the above information:

  • Why is the use of an ICS in a hospital important when dealing with a bioterrorist attack? What are the most challenging issues associated with using an ICS in a hospital? Why?
  • As a healthcare administrator, how would you allocate money and why? How prepared do you think the healthcare industry is to handle a bioterrorist attack? Why or why not?

Your review should be of at least 7- to 8-page Microsoft Word document, not counting the cover page or the reference page.

Support your responses with reasoning and examples

in-text citation as well as Cite any sources in APA format.

Submission Details

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Discussed the category of weapons of mass effect with which the healthcare industry is most prepared to deal and gave reasons for the answer. Provided a factual basis for choosing the particular category of weapons. Discussed the category of weapons that the healthcare industry is least prepared to deal with and gave reasons for the answer.
20
Discussed the six focus areas covered in the course textbook. Explained the relevance of these focus areas.
10
Researched and explained the meaning of each focus area. Expressed and provided reasons for the most important focus area.
10
Explained with reasons which focus area is the most challenging.
10
Justified the reasons for communication for being an important variable within calming fears and suppressing rumors.
10
Discussed the important training exercises in planning for a bioterrorist attack. Explained how to use training exercises to help prepare the staff of a hospital from a bioterrorist attack.
20
Discussed the benefits of real-life training scenarios involving multiple agencies.
10
Researched Amtrak’s “Operation Rail Safe” program. Explained the benefits that a program of this nature will have to aid the preparation hospitals and medical centers.
10
Discussed the criteria to be used in the emergency room to triage patients with potential exposure to the nerve agent sarin.
10
Explained the classification of the incoming patients when triaging them and the reasons for such classification.
10
Explained the importance of the use of an ICS in a hospital when dealing with a bioterrorist attack. Provided the most challenging issues associated with using an ICS in a hospital with reasons.
20
Analyzed, with reasons, how to allocate money as a healthcare administrator. Shared thoughts on how prepared is the healthcare industry to handle a bioterrorist attack.
20
Written components.
40
Total:
200