Disaster Preparedness – ATHNready
HTCs and their patients can take comfort in knowing that their data is well on the way toward being protected during and after a disaster. The disaster preparedness program, supported by cooperative agreement number U27DD000319 from the CDC, addresses disaster preparedness on two fronts: first, it helps the HTC to protect patient data collected using Lab Tracker and to restore the web-based infrastructure in the event of a disaster; and secondly, it leverages the infrastructure in order that patients and providers would have ready access to accurate medical and treatment history in the event of a disaster. This combined approach, which could help reduce morbidity, mortality and cost, is aligned with ATHN’s strategy to ensure data safety, back up and portability.
Earlier this spring, ATHN completed a draft of ATHNready, a national disaster preparedness plan, and is preparing to pilot test it this summer. Pilot testing sites include the Louisiana Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders in New Orleans and the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center in Houston. Additional pilot sites will be selected from among the Core Users and Super Users of Lab Tracker. (See related story.) With the adoption of Lab Tracker (web), all HTCs will need to modify data safety and back-up protocols as they begin to benefit from the new centralized hosting environment.
ATHNready includes templates that can be customized for an HTC. Pilot sites will be able to produce and deliver to their patients a standardized, portable report on a wallet sized flash drive that contains their individual medical and treatment data.
Best practices across HTCs were collected and integrated with recommendations available through www.ready.gov and other sources into the ATHNready prototype. The plan addresses:
- Planning in advance of a disaster,
- Practicing the plan within the HTC,
- Promoting preparedness to patients and the HTC team and
- Protecting the investments in the HTC.
Planning issues include establishing a crisis team, evacuation, patient outreach, patient reassignment strategies, and readiness to restore operations, particularly Lab Tracker. The ATHNready prototype considers the needs of both independent freestanding HTCs as well as HTCs that are part of larger healthcare systems. The prototype has been reviewed by the project steering committee, which includes the two HTCs most affected by hurricane Katrina along with several patients. An exhibit about ATHNready was supported at Hemophilia Federation of America’s annual meeting. Introductory brochures were prepared for distribution to patients and practitioners attending the meeting.
The ATHNready prototype will be previewed and distributed to HTC’s attending the ATHN Data Summit 2008, July 31 through August 1 in Chicago.
