Implementing the cities readiness initiative: lessons learned from Boston.
The federally funded Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) requires seamless federal, state, and local public health coordination to provide antibiotics to an entire city population within 48 hours of an aerosolized release of anthrax. We document practical lessons learned from the development and implementation of the Boston CRI plan. Key themes center on heightened emphasis on security, a new mass protection model of dispensing, neighborhood-centric clinic site selection, online training of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, and the testing of operations through drills and exercises. Sharing such lessons can build national preparedness.
Koh
Howard K
HK
Center for Public Health Preparedness, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Elqura
Loris J
LJ
Judge
Christine M
CM
Jacob
John P
JP
Williams
Amy E
AE
Crowther
M Suzanne
MS
Serino
Richard A
RA
Auerbach
John M
JM
D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001900:Boston; D003142:Communication; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016730:Program Development; D011633:Public Facilities; D011634:Public Health; D017751:Safety Management; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents