2003 National Public Health Forum on Bio-Terrorism & Infectious Disease Response

Protect Your Community from Potential Bio-Terrorism Attacks!

Preparedness and Response Plans
Prepare your community for bio-terrorist attacks while putting hoaxes to rest before panic develops. Current technology can go a long way in detecting a potential biological risk. However, so can effective surveillance and coordination of data between hospitals, public health offices and other critical agencies.

Effective Public Health Communication During a Crisis
Communicate vital information with the public and with other agencies in the event of a crisis. Effective communication between public health, hospitals, law enforcement, media and other entities as well as the public is critical to limiting the consequences resulting from a real or threatened bio-terrorist attack.

Integrating Public Health with Law Enforcement, Hospitals & EMS
Develop partnerships, collaborations and memorandums of understanding to ensure effective inter-agency communications. While all agencies know it is critical to work together in crisis situations, actually forging partnerships and collaborations that will effectively facilitate such communication require more than just a desire to work together. Hear from leaders in the field how they have developed, tested and implemented partnership agreements.

Epidemiology and Surveillance
Incorporate lessons learned from leaders who effectively managed responses to terrorism and its repercussions. Experience is the best teacher and we have invited those who successfully respond to terrorist attacks to share what they learned from these unfortunate events.

August 12-13 - Sheraton Denver West - Denver, Colorado

Agenda and Speaking Faculty
DAY ONE: September 22, 2003
8:30	Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00	KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Bio-Terrorism, Public Health and Law Enforcement: Pillars of Homeland Security The efforts to protect our nation and sadly, to respond to any bio-terrorist attack, require conscientious planning, enormous efforts in the implementation and a massive display of capable communications and strategic and integrated responses in the event of a catastrophe. Join this session to hear from the national leadership and front line responders about trends in preparedness and response, connecting health departments, and a realistic overview of the shared responsibilities in preparedness and response from our public health and law enforcement officials. Col. Jeffrey A. Elting, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Colonel, U.S. Army, Medical Corps (retired), District of Columbia Hospital Association, Medical Director for Bio-Terrorism Response Coordination
9:45	Leadership Panel: Preparing for and Managing Bio-Terrorism and Infectious Disease from Perspectives of Public Health to Law Enforcement Reviewing and Assessing the Adequacy of Federal Emergency Response Plans that Pertain to Terrorist Threats or Attacks within the United States Latest Updates and Alerts about Emerging Biological and Chemical Threats What are the Current Strategies for Identifying and Detecting Bio-Terrorist Threats Efforts to Increase State and Local Readiness Dr. Lisa Kaplowitz, M.D., M.S.H.A., Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Virginia Department of Health Karen Cleveland, Public Health Advisor, Centers for Disease Control
10:45	Break and Refreshments
11:00	Bio-Terrorism and Disease Outbreak Surveillance and Detection by IT Monitoring and Data Analysis Current Trends and Innovations for Surveillance and Detection Leading Strategies for Collaborating on Data Collection Effective Strategies for Surveillance for Facilities that can’t Afford the Latest Technology *Julie Casani, M.D., MPH*, Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
12:00	Networking Luncheon
1:15	Financing Public Health Emergency Preparedness Programs Overview of Available CDC Funding for Public Health Emergency Preparedness Identification of Major Focus Areas Review of Benchmarks and Expected Recipient Activities Peggy Honore, Director, Public Health Finance Program, Centers for Disease Control
2:15	Break
2:30	Managing Outbreaks: First Response Strategies on Smallpox, Pre and Post Event Plans and the DC Experience The mission of the Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration (EHMSA) is to coordinate the delivery of emergency medical services and trauma care to residents, workers and visitors in the District of Columbia by assisting in planned response to emergency health and medical crises through planning, preparedness, training and operational programs. Join this session to understand how DC Public Health does it, whether the plan really works under stress and the steps that led to a well consolidated plan of action that could be replicated in your locality. *Thomas Calhoun*, MD, FACS, FACN, FACPE, ABQAURP, Medical Director, Emergency Health & Medical Services Administration, Department of Health, Washington, DC
3:30	Case Study: National Capital Region Hospital Bio-Terrorism Response Coordination The District of Columbia Hospital Association (DCHA) has been in the forefront of the debate on a wide range of national health issues. Locally, DCHA works closely with government and non-government officials to meet community health needs. Medical Director for Bio-Terrorism Response Coordination at DCHA, Dr. Jeffrey Elting has coordinated a comprehensive capability assessment and readiness survey of hospitals in the District. The long-term objective is to make sure the District and the region have a synchronized emergency management health care system. Join this session to discuss: How to Get Your Leadership Committed to Address the Many Complex Issues that Arise in Times of Calamity Protection and Detection Initiatives, such as Immunizations, Protective Equipment and Bio-Terrorism for the First Responder and Health Care System Workforce How a Stale or Local Agency can Redirect Federal Funds to Weak Areas in EMS, such as Stockpile Management How to Determine a Local Protocol for Vaccination Col. Jeffrey A. Elting, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., Medical Director for Bio-Terrorism Response Coordination, District of Columbia Hospital Association, President and Chief Operating Officer National Capital Region - Emergency Response
4:30	Adjourn
Day Two: September 23, 2003
8:30	Continental Breakfast
9:00	Forging Partnerships Between Law Enforcement Agencies and Public Health and Epidemiology Centers: Increase Attention Capacity Join this session to learn how the FBI interacts with state and local law enforcement and public health agencies to prevent acts of bio-terrorism and deal with crisis. Although both public health and law enforcement protect the public, the approach and nature of the work performed in the two disciplines are quite different, as defined by the CDC. The similarities and differences in public health and law enforcement investigations have to be understood and coordinated so that both can be most effective. *Robert M. Scripp MA*, Intelligence Operations Specialist, Weapons of Mass Destruction Countermeasures Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation
10:00	Morning Break
10:15	Best Practices in Decontamination Planning and Implementation: Links Between the Public Health Agencies and the US SNS What Medical Materials will be Available, in Case of Crisis and how to Include their Push in a Local Disaster Plan How Different State and Local Agencies Should Interact for Efficient Coverage What is the Role of the Community in Communicating Assisting and Distributing in the Event of a Crisis? *Colonel Robert P. Mauskapf*, State Planning Coordinator, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Virginia Department of Health
11:00	Laboratory Diagnosis of Chemical Agents Recognize the Course of an Epidemiologic Investigation and its Definite Diagnosis Provide Assurance and Control of the Public’s Trauma and Consequential Chaos Understand how to Partner for Better and Quicker Results in Limiting the Spread of Contagious Agents *Dr. Tim Croley, Lead Scientist, Chemical Terrorism, Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services Denise Pettit*, Lead Scientist, Special Projects, Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services
12:00	Networking Luncheon
1:00	Homeland Defense Reuse Program (HDER) The goal of the HDER Program is to provide surplus radiological detection instrumentation and other equipment, as well as training and technical support to emergency responder agencies nationwide to enhance their domestic preparedness capabilities. Join this session to learn about this pilot project and other federal efforts towards national preparedness and prevention capacity building. *Kerry L. Thomas*, Acting Assistant Director, Office for Domestic Preparedness, US Department of Homeland Security
1:45	Strategic National Stockpile: The Laboratory Experience Identifying Key Collaborators and Essential Components Determining State and Local Responsibilities and Dovetailing those Efforts Design a Dispensing Template to Address Triage, Regulation of Dispensing, Record Keeping, Physical Layout, Security Plans, Venues, Staffing and Collaboration Issues Denise Pettit, Lead Scientist, Special Projects, Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services Dr. Tim Croley, Lead Scientist, Chemical Terrorism, Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services
2:45	Media Relations During a Bio-Terrorist Attack: Containing Rumors, Assuring the Public and Managing Information Strategies and Techniques for Media Success in the Event of Public Health Crisis Building a Media Strategy: Accurate and Effective Communication that Encourages and Facilitates Inter-agency Work Practical Exercises for Public Health and the Law Enforcement Media Reality *Paul Pattak*, President, Byron Group, Former Consultant to the Hart-Rudman Commission
3:30	Break and Refreshments
3:45	Media Relations During a Bio-Terrorist Attact (continued from 2:45)
4:30	Adjourn
Post-Conference Workshop: September 24, 2003
9:00	Morning Workshop: SARS and Smallpox Pre and Post Scenario: From Identification to Recovery Current events regarding emerging and forgotten infectious diseases have the public, the international community and especially our public health and law enforcement workforce on its toes. As preparedness efforts escalate and state and local budgets get adjusted for the purpose of Crisis Management in the event of a chemical or biological attack, several pre- and post-smallpox scenarios have been devised. As it happened with the recent SARS breakout, the strain of identifying a new pathology is enormous, but the results are quick and now more publicly divulged. This scenario/type session on SARS and smallpox will address: The Experience of Recognizing the Emergence of a New Virus/Disease Agencies Involved, Flow of Information and Divulgement Treatment Provided for Each Case Isolation and Quarantine Issues Special Discussion: Inoculation of Health Case Workers Insofar as Budgets, Volunteers and Vaccination Side Effects Thomas Calhoun, MD, FACS, FACN, FACPE, ABQAURP, Medical Director, Emergency Health & Medical Services Administration, Department of Health, Washington, DC Daniel R. Lucey, MD, MPH, FACP, Consultant on Bioterrorism & Emerging Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown Medical School, Washington, DC
12:00	Adjourn

Or by calling us at
703-894-0481

Venue

The 2003 National Public Health Forum on Bio-Terrorism and Infectious Disease Response will be held at the Performance Institute in Arlington, VA. The Institute is located one block east of the Courthouse Metro stop on the Orange Line and situated just minutes from the Quality Courthouse and Virginia Suites hotels. There is also a public parking garage located inside the building that opens at 8:00 a.m. All-day parking in the garage costs $6.00 if arriving before 9:00 a.m. and $8.00 if arriving after 9:00 AM. Continental breakfasts and catered lunches will be provided for all delegates.

The Performance Institute
1515 N. Courthouse Road
Sixth Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel: 703-894-0481
www.PerformanceWeb.org

Hotel

A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Quality Courthouse Inn at a discounted rate of $115. Please contact the hotel with the number provided to make reservations. Be sure to ask for the Performance Institute conference rate when calling to reserve your room. The hotel will ensure that your conference experience is comfortable and enjoyable.

Quality Courthouse Inn
1200 Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel: 703-524-4000

Tuition

Rates for the 2003 National Public Health Forum on Bio-Terrorism and Infectious Disease Response are as follows:

Conference:	$1,095
Workshop:	$495

Group Discounts

Reduced tuition rates for delegates who attend in groups of three or more are available by calling James Simpson at 703-894-0481, or emailing him at [email protected].

Administrative Note: A 10% cancellation fee on registration will be charged for cancellations received less than three weeks from the date of the conference. As speakers are confirmed six months before the event, some speaker changes or topic changes may occur in the program. The Performance Institute is not responsible for speaker changes, but will work to ensure a comparable speaker is located to participate in the program.