Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T02:11:49.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Enhancing the Translation of Disaster Health Competencies Into Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2014

Lauren Walsh*
Affiliation:
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, Maryland
Brian A. Altman
Affiliation:
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, Maryland
Richard V. King
Affiliation:
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Kandra Strauss-Riggs
Affiliation:
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Rockville, Maryland
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Lauren Walsh, MPH, Henry M. Jackson, Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 1000, Rockville, MD 20815 (email: [email protected]).

Abstract

Objectives

Disaster health workers currently have no common standard based on a shared set of competencies, learning objectives, and performance metrics with which to develop courses or training materials relevant to their learning audience. We examined how existing competency sets correlate within the 2012 pyramidal learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health criteria and describe how this exercise can guide curriculum developers.

Methods

We independently categorized 35 disaster health-related competency sets according to the 4 levels and criteria of the pyramidal learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health.

Results

Using the hierarchical learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health criteria as guidance, we classified with consistency only 10 of the 35 competency sets.

Conclusions

The proposed series of minor modifications to the framework should allow for consistent classification of competency sets. Improved education and training of all health professionals is a necessary step to ensuring that health system responders are appropriately and adequately primed for their role in disasters. Revising the organizing framework should assist disaster health educators in selecting competencies appropriate to their learning audience and identify gaps in current education and training. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:70-78)

Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. The White House. Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-21; October 18, 2007.Google Scholar
2. Lyznicki, J, Subbarao, I, Benjamin, GC, James, JJ. Developing a consensus framework for an effective and efficient disaster response health system: a national call to action. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2007;1(suppl 1):S51-S54.Google Scholar
3. King, RV, North, CS, Larkin, GL, etal. Attributes of effective disaster responders: focus group 2010;4(4):332-338.Google Scholar
4. Coule, PL, Schwartz, RB. The national disaster life support programs: a model for competency-based standardized and locally relevant training. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2009;15(suppl 2):S25-S30.Google Scholar
5. Gebbie, K, Merrill, J. Public health worker competencies for emergency response. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2002;8(3):73-81.Google Scholar
6. Gebbie, KM, Qureshi, K. Emergency and disaster preparedness: core competencies for nurses. Am J Nurs. 2002;102(1):46-51.Google Scholar
7. Hsu, EB, Thomas, TL, Bass, EB, Whyne, D, Kelen, GD, Green, GB. Healthcare worker competencies for disaster training. BMC Med Educ. 2006;6:19.Google Scholar
8. Markenson, D, DiMaggio, C, Redlener, I. Preparing health professions students for terrorism, disaster, and public health emergencies: core competencies. Acad Med. 2005;80(6):517-526.Google Scholar
9. Schultz, CH, Koenig, KL, Whiteside, M, Murray, R. Development of national standardized all-hazard disaster core competencies for acute care physicians, nurses, and EMS professionals. Ann Emerg Med. 2012;59(3):196-208; e191.Google Scholar
10. Subbarao, I, Lyznicki, JM, Hsu, EB, etal. A consensus-based educational framework and competency set for the discipline of disaster medicine and public health preparedness. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. Mar. 2008;2(1):57-68.Google Scholar
11. Walsh, L, Subbarao, I, Gebbie, K, etal. Core competencies for disaster medicine and public health. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2012;6(1):44-52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. James, JJ, Benjamin, GC, Burkle, FM Jr, Gebbie, KM, Kelen, G, Subbarao, I. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness: a discipline for all health professionals. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2010;4(2):102-107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. More, FG, Phelan, J, Boylan, R, etal. Predoctoral dental school curriculum for catastrophe preparedness. J Dent Educ. 2004;68(8):851-858.Google Scholar
14. Wenzel, JG, Wright, JC. Veterinary accreditation and some new imperatives for national preparedness. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007;230(9):1309-1312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses. Chapter three: development of the ICN disaster nursing competencies. In: ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies. Geneva, Switzerland: International Council of Nurses; 2009:34-60.Google Scholar
16. National Panel for APRN Emergency Preparedness and All Hazards Response Education. APRN Education for Emergency Preparedness and All Hazards Response: Resources and Suggested Content. Washington, DC: National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties; 2007.Google Scholar
17. World Health Organization. The Contribution of Nursing and Midwifery in Emergencies. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; November 22-24, 2006.Google Scholar
18. Public Risk Management Association. Public Risk Management Association core competencies. Washington, DC: Public Risk Management Association; 2008.Google Scholar
19. Nursing Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition. Educational competencies for registered nurses responding to mass casualty incidents. Nashville, TN: Nursing Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition; July 2003. http://www.nursing.vanderbilt.edu/incmce/competencies.html.Google Scholar
20. Kuntz, S, Frable, P, Qureshi, K, Strong, L. Disaster preparedness white paper for community/public health nursing educators. Wheat Ridge, CO: Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE); 2008:1-13.Google Scholar
21. Polivka, BJ, Stanley, SA, Gordon, D, Taulbee, K, Kieffer, G, McCorkle, SM. Public health nursing competencies for public health surge events. Public Health Nurs. 2008;25(2):159-165.Google Scholar
22. Jorgensen, AM, Mendoza, GJ, Henderson, JL. Emergency preparedness and disaster response core competency set for perinatal and neonatal nurses. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2010;39(4):450-465, quiz 465-457.Google Scholar
23. Iowa Department of Public Health Mental Health Competencies Task Force. Mental health competencies for health care providers for terrorism and emergency preparedness and response. Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Public Health.Google Scholar
24. Everly, GS Jr, Beaton, RD, Pfefferbaum, B, Parker, CL. On academics: training for disaster response personnel: the development of proposed core competencies in disaster mental health. Public Health Rep. 2008;123(4):539-542.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Columbia University School of Nursing. Bioterrorism and Emergency Readiness: Competencies for All Public Health Workers. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; November 2002.Google Scholar
26. Association of Schools of Public Health. Public Health Preparedness and Response Core Competency Model. Atlanta, GA: Association of Schools of Public Health; December 17, 2010.Google Scholar
27. US Public Health Service. Pharmacist Readiness Training Program: Pharmacist Readiness Roles and Competencies. Washington, DC: US Public Health Service; 2008.Google Scholar
28. Minnesota Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness. Bioterrorism hospital preparedness program: healthcare personnel emergency preparedness (HPEP) competencies. St Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Health; 2006.Google Scholar
29. Florida Department of Health. State of Florida recommended core competencies and planning/mitigation strategies for hospital personnel. Tallahassee, FL: State of Florida; April 2004.Google Scholar
30. NBC Task Force. Recommendations for WMD training and sustainment. In: Developing Objectives, Content, and Competencies for the Training of Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Nurses to Care for Casualities Resulting from Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical (NBC) Incidents: Final Report. Washington, DC: Office of Emergency Preparedness US Department of Health and Human Services; April 23, 2001.Google Scholar
31. Medical Reserve Corps. MRC core competencies matrix. Washington, DC: Office of the Surgeon General; April 2007.Google Scholar
32. European Master in Disease Medicine program and teachers: 2012/2013, XI edition. http://www.dismedmaster.com/course/next-master-disaster-medicine-course.php, 2012.Google Scholar
33. College of Nursing Art and Science University of Hyogo. Core competencies required for disaster nursing: research section for the development of nursing care strategies: education/training method development project; 2006. http://www.coe-cnas.jp/english/group_education/core_competencies_list.html. Accessed 2012.Google Scholar
34. Disaster Services Human Resource. Competencies and activities checklist. Document Library. Washington, DC: American Red Cross; 2011. http://www.oregonredcross.org/general.asp?SN=2866&OP=11630&IDCapitulo=663b0id44v#6.Google Scholar
35. Walker, P, Russ, C. Humanitarian core competencies: professionalising the humanitarian sector: a scoping study. Cardiff, Wales: Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance; 2010.Google Scholar
36. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine competencies--2008. J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50(6):712-724.Google Scholar
37. Tachibanai, T, Takemura, S, Sone, T, Segami, K, Kato, N. Competence necessary for Japanese public health center directors in responding to public health emergencies. Nihon Koshu Eisei Zasshi. 2005;52(11):943-956.Google ScholarPubMed
38. Center for Public Health Preparedness Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Emergency preparedness and response competencies for hospital workers. New York, NY: Columbia University; July 2003.Google Scholar
39. Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies. Core competencies framework. London, England: Save the Children; 2014. http://www.thecbha.org/what-we-do/capacity-building/common-competencies-leadership-frameworks/ Google Scholar
40. Barbera, JA, Macintyre, AG, Westerman, LT, Shaw, GL, de Cosmo, S. VHA-EMA certification program: healthcare emergency management professional certification program. Washington, DC: George Washington University, Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management; October 15, 2007.Google Scholar
41. Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. Competency-to-curriculum toolkit. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; March 2008.Google Scholar
42. Archer, F, Seynaeve, G. International guidelines and standards for education and training to reduce the consequences of events that may threaten the health status of a community: a report of an Open International WADEM Meeting, Brussels, Belgium, 29-31 October, 2004. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(2):120-130.Google Scholar
43. Bradt, DA, Drummond, CM. Professionalization of disaster medicine--an appraisal of criterion-referenced qualifications. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(5):360-368.Google Scholar
44. Burkle, FM, Walls, AE, Heck, JP, etal. Academic affiliated training centers in humanitarian health, Part I: program characteristics and professionalization preferences of centers in North America. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(2):155-162.Google Scholar
45. Mowafi, H, Nowak, K, Hein, K. Facing the challenges in human resources for humanitarian health. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(5):351-359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
46. Kene, M, Pack, ME, Greenough, PG, Burkle, FM Jr. The professionalization of humanitarian health assistance: report of a survey on what humanitarian health workers tell us. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2009;24(suppl 2):s210-s216.Google Scholar
47. Boelsche, D, Klumpp, M, Abidi, H. Specific competencies in humanitarian logistics education. J Humanitarian Logistics Supply Chain Manage. 2013;3(2):99-128.Google Scholar