Course Name: Public Health Implications of Disasters

Week 14 – Public Health Policy and Disaster Performance Evaluation

Overview

Every emergency responder has heard of an after action report (AAR). Such an evaluation is a tool used to improve upon mistakes made during an incident so that the next one will proceed more smoothly or achieve the desired outcome. If you read AARs over time you might note that many issues are brought up repeatedly. Unfortunately, this indicates that some lessons are not learned, despite the fact that they are often called “Lessons Learned.” Regardless, the point is that performance evaluation is key to improving systems in every workplace and the disaster management arena is no different.

Public policy largely guides what we do and how we do it at the local, state and federal level in disaster management. As you conclude this course, think about everything that you have learned and whether we as a nation seem to be proceeding on the proper course. To stimulate your mind and throw you a curve ball, we have included a journal article that will have you asking yourself whether or not everything you are taught as an emergency clinician and disaster manager is correct. Congratulations on making it to the end of the course.

Reading

Textbook assignments

1. Ciottone chapters 61 and 62

2. Landesman chapter 13: Public Health Considerations in Recovery and Reconstruction

3. Landesman chapter 14: Evaluation Methods for Assessing Public Health Response and Medical Response to

Disasters

4. Landesman chapter 15: Ethical Considerations in Public Health Emergencies

Journal Articles and other readings

1. Matthew Sztajnkrycer et al. Unstable Ethical Plateaus and Disaster Triage.Ethics and DIsasters.pdf

Discussion Question

In Chapter 14, Landesman talks about post-disaster assessments and post-disaster priorities. Describe and briefly discuss an example of a real-world post-disaster assessment and a post-disaster priority. Reference the literature citation, website or whatever else you used to substantiate your answer (i.e. the answer can not be theoretical or based on personal experience alone).

– APA Style

– At least 3 references