SITUATION:
Coordinated Consulting Services (CCS) was hired in 2023 through a partnership with Clackamas County Public Health Division (CCPHD) and Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) to develop and conduct a series of workshops in preparation for the development of a regional public health special pathogen coordination plan and tabletop exercise. The goal of the project was to bring multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector stakeholders together in the region to further special pathogens planning, coordination, and response within six counties in both Oregon and Washington states.
Prior to the development of the plan, CCPHD and CRI needed to understand the strengths and gaps of existing special pathogen plans and procedures in the region including, emergency medical services, health care, local public health, and state public health sectors. A priority of the project was to gather input and expertise from a variety of subject matter experts and stakeholders in the region.
SOLUTION:
CCS structured the project in two phases. Phase 1 included the gap assessment and a series of virtual workshops. The gap assessment included reviewing a large group of plans, procedures, and after action reports related to Ebola and other special pathogens to identify strengths and gaps in the region’s preparedness. This phase also involved the development and facilitation of two virtual workshops to engage stakeholders and provide an opportunity to gather knowledge from subject matter experts. The information gathered during the gap assessment and the workshops was used to inform the development of the plan in Phase 2.
Phase 2 involved the development of the regional special pathogen coordination plan and the development and facilitation of an in person tabletop exercise to test the plan. During the exercise, information and feedback was gathered and used to refine the final plan content.
CCS worked closely with the core planning team, consisting of CCPHD, CRI, and state public health representatives, through the entirety of the project. The core planning team assisted with the overall management and direction of project; attended and participated in core planning team meetings; reviewed and provided feedback on project deliverables during each phase; attended and participated in the expanded planning team meetings; and provided direction on the ongoing scope, and timeline.
An extended planning team was used throughout both phases of the project; however, the participants of the expanded planning team changed from Phase 1 to Phase 2 based on the needs of the project. The extended planning team consisted of subject matter experts from local public health, state public health, private and county emergency medical services, hospitals (the Region 10 Regional Special Pathogen Treatment Center and the Level 2 Treatment Center), and the region’s health preparedness organization. The team provided expertise and input on both the planning of the workshops and the
exercise. They reviewed and provided feedback on workshop materials, exercise materials, the plan, and the after action report.
OUTCOME:
The Regional Special Pathogens Public Health Coordination Plan for the Greater Portland Metro Area was finalized in early September of 2024. As a result of this, the region has a comprehensive public health special pathogens coordination plan that is tailored to the complex and nuanced needs of the CRI region. The multi-sector and multi-jurisdiction team approach to the workshops, plan development, and tabletop exercise has brought together stakeholders in the region, strengthened partnerships, and increased awareness of coordination and response roles among sectors.
In addition to the coordination plan, the region has an inventory and assessment of relevant state, local, and regional plans, procedures, and after action reports from the gap assessment. The comprehensive Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant exercise resulted in an after action report and improvement plan to guide future regional special pathogens planning efforts.
