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Dear Paula,
Thanks for being an MDA31 volunteer! This
newsletter will keep you informed regarding various
aspects of clinic organization and training dates.
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Letter from the Regional Clinic Coordinator |
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For
the past six years, planning for
bioterrorist and large scale health and
natural emergencies has been a major focus
for municipalities across this country. In
Connecticut, this planning effort has been
directed by local health departments
following the specific goals and objectives
developed by the federal Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Plans have been developed for responding to
and immunizing our entire populations
against smallpox, pandemic flu, and anthrax,
and these plans have been drilled and tested
on a local, regional and statewide basis. As
we continue through our sixth year of
planning, our major emphasis will be on
three elements: drilling and exercising
plans on a local and regional level;
formally assessing the plans that have been
developed using a Technical Assistance
Review tool (TAR) developed by the CDC; and
training staff and volunteers on the
specifics of distributing vaccine and
medications to all segments of our
population.
Toward this latter point of “distributing vaccine and medications,” the major
focus has been on how best to locate, open and operate a clinic site and on the
most efficient ways to get people to, from and through these clinics. This
process is termed a “pull” model, that is, getting people to and through our
clinic sites quickly and efficiently. However, over the past two years, rather
than focusing on how to get people to and through our clinics, focus has
been directed on how to get medications and vaccines out to our
residents, a “push” model. The theory behind the “push” model is that by
delivering medications to residents rather than having residents coming to
clinic sites, disruption and confusion are reduced, the pressures on security
are lessened, and volunteer efficiency is improved. This “push” model approach
was initially tested in Connecticut in 2004 by MDA #31 and the Capital Region
Emergency Planning Committee (CREPC). Since that initial test, various
approaches to the “push” model have been tested nationally resulting in a more
firm belief that using “push” and “pull” approaches in tandem may be the best
way to get medications and vaccines to all segments of our community in a quick
and efficient manner. You will hear more about these approaches in the coming
months at our various training sessions.
Finally, I want to strongly encourage everyone in both communities to learn as
much as they can about being prepared and participating in the various training
opportunities offered by our federal, state and local partners. The time to be
prepared is prior to an event, not when the event is upon us. Later in this
newsletter, Allyson Schulz, MDA #31’s Public Health Preparedness Coordinator,
lists ways in which you can become informed and participate in our planning
process. Please take advantage of these various opportunities by reading,
training, volunteering and asking questions.
Charles J. Petrillo, Jr., Dr.PH
Regional Clinic Coordinator
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Stay Connected! |
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2008 is here and MDA #31's New Year's
Resolution is to do a better job of staying
connected to its volunteer corps. We are
very proud to have recruited so many
wonderful, dedicated members of the Windsor
and South Windsor communities over the
years. This year we will be reaching out to
you in a variety of ways.
First, keep your eyes out for a "snail
mail" message from the MDA asking you to
confirm your interest in serving as a clinic
volunteer. It is vital that we receive your
completed registration form so that we have
accurate contact information for you. Please
help us out by returning your form in a
timely manner.
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Visited TRAINConnecticut Lately?? |
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TRAINConnecticut is an online training
resource for public health volunteers and
professionals. As part of our contract with
the State, MDA #31 is required to have all
its public health emergency response
volunteers register on this website. Doing
so allows us to maintain training records
centrally.
If you have not already registered,
please visit
http://ct.train.org today. Step-by-step
instructions are available on the MDA
website. If you don't have computer access
at home, feel free to ask your local
librarian for assistance:
- Leeann Costello at the Windsor Public
Library, 323 Broad St, Windsor
- Gaye Rizzo at the Wilson Branch Library,
365 Windsor Ave., Windsor
- Mary Etter at the South Windsor Public
Library, 1550 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor.
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A Reminder To All Volunteers
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Please remember that it is imperative that
ALL MEDICAL volunteers create an account on
the Public Health Education and Training
site
http://ct.train.org. Once you are logged
on to the web site's home page, click the
"create an account" link on the left hand
side of the page. From there follow the
prompts for the demographic data and submit
your entry. Once you have created your
account, you are then eligible to take ANY
of the training courses offered through the
system.
More info . . . |
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