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Measures of Effectiveness in Large-scale Bioterrorism Events

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Frederick M. Burkle Jr
Frederick M. Burkle Jr*
Affiliation:
Project Director, Biosecurity and Health Preparedness Expansion Grant, University of Texas at Houston and University of Hawaii, Johns A. Burns School of Medicine, Houston, Texas and Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

Measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are defined as operationally quantifiable management tools that provide a means for measuring effectiveness, outcome, and performance. No clear MOEs exist for determining success or failure of the management of a bioterrorism response. This is especially critical because management requires a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary decision-making and evaluation process. It is suggested that the minimum MOEs required to operationally measure outcome must contain a measuring response capacity for: (1) real-time public health surveillance system; (2) full coverage health information system; (3) capacity to measure variance across management timelines; (4) demonstrated decline in mortality and morbidity; (5) control of transmission rates of communicable agents; and (6) resource distribution across the entire population.

Keywords

bioagentsbioterrorismdisaster managementhealth indicatorshomeland securitymass casualty incidentsmeasures of effectivenessoutcome indicators performance indicators
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 18 , Issue 3: Terrorism-II: Special Reports , September 2003 , pp. 258 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2003

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