Emergency Public Health

Building a Searchable Database of Infectious Disease Resources

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:44:47 +0000

Building a Searchable Database of Infectious Disease Resources

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:44

The ask: Concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program to request a database for storing resources on worker safety and infectious diseases.

The solution: Since 2000, MDB has operated the Worker Training Program’s National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training, a vast archive of information on hazardous waste management and safety. For the new request, MDB created a searchable database within the Clearinghouse, called the Material Upload and Search Tool for Infectious Disease (MUSTID).

More than 500 infectious disease resources are now available through MUSTID to Worker Training Program staff, grant administrators, trainers, and the public. The breadth of MUSTID resources continues to grow as Worker Training Program grant administrators and trainers share resources to be uploaded. Resources are curated and tagged with keywords to enhance searchability.

Notable outcomes: MUSTID was initially launched in June 2020 as an internal tool for WTP and housed within the program’s internal Data Management System. In October 2021, the MUSTID public portal was launched to provide accessibility to anyone interested in infectious diseases and worker health and safety.

Many of the MUSTID resources focus on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, as well as other coronaviruses (e.g., the MERS and SARS viruses), but the database is growing to include information related to influenza, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.

Resources include clinical and operational guidelines, regulations, checklists, FAQs, training materials, and peer-reviewed articles that explain the science behind guidance documents.

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Supporting NIEHS Environmental Career Worker Training Program

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:32:37 +0000

Supporting NIEHS Environmental Career Worker Training Program

Emergency Public Health

Occupational Safety & Health

Program Management

Training

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:32

The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Environmental Career Worker Training Program, funds organizations — called grantees — that train people from disadvantaged communities for jobs in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). Since its inception in 1995, the program has relied on MDB for help fulfilling its unique mission.

The solution: MDB has been integral to the Environmental Career Worker Training Program’s evolution, assisting grantees with training sessions, writing grantee success stories, and supporting special projects. Our history of supporting ECWTP and grantees, combined with our knowledge of health disparities and environmental issues, enables us to develop materials that capture the individual- and community-level impacts of the program.

As needed and appropriate, we take on special projects to support ECWTP. For example, in 2014, we collaborated with economists at Holy Cross University to conduct an economic impact review of the program. Together, we published the Environmental Career Worker Training Program Economic Impact Report, which summarizes the program’s many achievements, such as its positive influence on worker earnings and revenue, and its role in reducing costs related to workplace injury.

For the program’s 25th anniversary in 2020, we worked with NIEHS staff and grantees to develop a new webpage and logo to publicize the occasion and expand program outreach. We also created a new fact sheet and infographic describing key aspects of the program.

Notable outcomes: MDB continues to work with the program to promote training and sustainable careers, build stakeholder engagement, and advance environmental health.

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Pathogen Safety Data Guide and Training Module Offers Clear Solutions

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:30:16 +0000

Pathogen Safety Data Guide and Training Module Offers Clear Solutions

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Occupational Safety & Health

Training

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:30

The ask: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP) requested help developing training tools and resources for infectious disease response.

The solution: In response, MDB developed a pathogen safety data (PSD) guide and training module aimed to raise awareness of existing PSD resources and how they are being used to develop infectious disease occupational exposure control plans in a variety of industries. MDB’s Ebola training gap analysis informed the development of the PSD guide and training module. Two key findings from the gap analysis showed that federal guidance was inconsistent and incomplete, and resources on infectious diseases are sometimes conflicting or lack the detail required to be immediately helpful.

The PSD guide aims to address these issues by reviewing existing PSD resources, outlining their strengths and limitations, and explaining how to access them. The PSD training module was developed to train workers who may be exposed to infectious diseases on how to use existing PSD resources.

MDB worked with NIEHS staff and awardees to pilot test the PSD module through a series of infectious diseases training sessions for workers in various sectors and we used feedback received during these sessions to refine the course materials. The complete PSD training module includes a PowerPoint presentation, a participant worksheet, the PSD guide, a glossary, four case studies, and an instructor guide.

Notable outcomes: Workers who are at higher risk to be exposed to infectious diseases in their workplace are now better prepared to respond to possible infectious disease pathogens, thanks to this innovative training.

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Developing Pilot Project Into a Full Scope Disaster Research Response Program

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:18:31 +0000

Developing Pilot Project Into a Full Scope Disaster Research Response Program

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Program Management

Strategic Planning

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:18

The ask: In 2012, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership published a call for action in the New England Journal of Medicine to improve the capabilities of the nation to conduct human health research in the aftermath of disasters. Up to that point, disaster research was uncoordinated, largely anecdotal, and lacked the scientific rigor that is the basis for all human health studies.

The solution: In response to this article, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) instituted a pilot project in disaster research called the Disaster Research Response project, with a focus on environmental health studies. MDB supported this project by providing strategic planning, expertise in disaster management and public health, and science writing. MDB supported monthly meetings of the National Institutes of Health disaster interest group, assisted with the development of disaster research workshops that occurred in four large cities across the country, provided expertise in the development of a Disaster Research Response program website, and co-authored several peer-reviewed articles about disaster research.

Notable outcomes: Through the efforts supported by MDB, the DR2 project is now a full-fledged program at NIEHS.

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Developing COVID-19 Materials to Improve Health Agency Response

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:15:16 +0000

Developing COVID-19 Materials to Improve Health Agency Response

COVID-19

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Public Health

Events

Strategic Planning

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:15

The ask: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic stressed state and local health departments across the nation. Working tirelessly, health departments needed support to improve their responses.

The solution: During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, MDB was tasked with supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) COVID-19 response. One of our senior staff served as a pandemic advisor the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and worked with the PADOH COVID-19 staff to improve the state’s response.

Notable outcomes: MDB provided strategic advice, infectious disease outbreak response expertise, and created and conducted a tabletop exercise for the administration’s senior staff.

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Developing an Emergency Operations Plan for Healthcare Coalitions

ntomchin — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:13:41 +0000

Developing an Emergency Operations Plan for Healthcare Coalitions

Emergency Public Health

ntomchin Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:13

The ask: A state healthcare coalition requested assistance in developing an Emergency Operations Plan for the regional healthcare coalition.

The solution: MDB worked with the coalition to develop a plan that was based on a hazard assessment, reflected local practices, and engaged stakeholders representing emergency management, public health, health care, and emergency medical services. MDB took a process approach to the plan that resulted in a functional document that focused on coalition-wide notification, coordination, communication, situational awareness, and resource management.

Notable outcomes: A fully functional plan that serves as the integrator of all the coalition functions and is the parent document to all specialty annexes for the coalition.

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