Homework: Massachusetts Public Health Administrator
Massachusetts Public Health Administrator: You are concerned with the overall health of the majority of people. Therefore, you are focused on how to maintain health care and emergency services for people who will continue to be sick and injured with issues unrelated to the SARS outbreak. You also are concerned with issues that may escalate the spread, such as proper disposal of infected blankets and clothes in hospitals or in private homes.
Day 1 response- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 2-3 paragraph
Mortality by age group is below 1% for people aged 24 or younger, 6% for those 25 to 44, 15% in those 45 to 64 and more than 50% for those over 65. For comparison, the case fatality rate for influenza is usually around 0.6% (primarily among the elderly) but can rise as high as 33% in locally severe epidemics of new strains. The mortality rate of the primary viral pneumonia form is about 70%.
1) Antibiotics are ineffective as SARS is a viral disease. Treatment of SARS so far has been largely supportive with antipyretics, supplemental oxygen and ventilatory support as needed.
2) Suspected cases of SARS must be isolated, preferably in negative pressure rooms, with complete barrier nursing precautions taken for any necessary contact with these patients.
3) There was initially anecdotal support for steroids and the antiviral drug ribavirin, but no published evidence has supported this therapy.
Things to Consider:
1) How will you respond to the public health situation (i.e., do you need an incident command)?
2) How will you collaborate with your team and participating agencies?
3) Your team includes multiple agencies - will someone take the lead? How do you decide?
4) How will you communicate to the public? What are the key messages?
5) What resources do you need?
Day 2 response- As the Public Health Administrator- response already completed.
Day 3- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 2-3 paragraph
A small group of protestors have emerged around the hospital saying they are to blame for the SARS outbreak.
Things to Consider:
1) How might the protestors affect the hospital's response to the outbreak?
2) How might the protestors affect the spread of SARS?
3) Are there additional concerns regarding the protestors (e.g., media coverage, security, etc.)?
Day 4- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 2-3 paragraph
Doctors and nurses are working double shifts, tirelessly trying to help people. They are beginning to get exhausted and overworked to the point of being useless. Also, the majority of hospital janitorial workers belong to unions, which are advising them not to report to work because of a "hazardous work environment". This is already affecting the amount of infected and dirty materials accumulating in hospitals. These two staffing issues need to be addressed immediately.
Things to Consider:
1) How can you negotiate and mediate a resolution with the union and janitorial workers during this public health emergency?
2) What can you do for the doctors and nurses' exhaustion and staffing coverage?
Day 5- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 2-3 paragraph
The Massachusetts Governor has declared a state of emergency.
Things to Consider:
How does the declared state of emergency affect the situation?
Day 6- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 1-3 paragraph
SARS confirmed cases are 3,100.
SARS confirmed deaths are 300.
Things to Consider:
1) Is there any significance of the mortality rate on the outbreak or community?
Day 7- As the Public Health Administrator- response can 2-3 paragraph
The Mayor of Boston has contracted SARS and must be isolated.
Things to Consider:
1) Can the Mayor still participate on the team? Do you need a replacement team member?
Hot wash
At the beginning of Week Six, your group will do a hotwash in the group discussion to discuss lessons learned; what went well and the challenges. In this week, you will compile all details, notes, and action logs (each group member will share logs with the group). This is the week to review, clarify, and have open discussions about the scenario and your group's response in the previous week. The lessons learned will be shared and discussed with the class in Week Seven. You can continue to collaborate with your group members during Week Six.
Complete the following during Week Six:
1) Complete a hotwash with your group by Friday (see details below).
2) Share your action logs with your group members.
3) Review and compile the details, notes, and action logs from your group's response to the public health scenario.
4) Hotwash Considerations:
a) What went well in your team's response?
b) What were the challenges or lessons learned?
c) Would you respond differently (as your leadership role) if this public health scenario occurred again?
Project
Your homework is to be completed individually. You must write an executive summary for your executive leadership in your agency. An executive summary provides an overview of a larger report; highlighting key points of the overall document. Executive summaries can vary in length, but are typically between 2 to 10 pages depending on the report's content (2 to 5 pages is acceptable for this homework).
Complete the following during Week Seven:
1) Write an executive summary.
2) Submit your executive summary in the Group Project Homework
CEPH Competencies
MPH 16. Leadership. Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
MPH 17. Leadership. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.