title: Chicago Ebola Response Network (CERN): A Citywide Cross-hospital Collaborative for Infectious Disease Preparedness.
abstract: The 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic and international public health emergency has been referred to as a "black swan" event, or an event that is unlikely, hard to predict, and highly impactful once it occurs. The Chicago Ebola Response Network (CERN) was formed in response to EVD and is capable of receiving and managing new cases of EVD, while also laying the foundation for a public health network that can anticipate, manage, and prevent the next black swan public health event. By sharing expertise, risk, and resources among 4 major academic centers, Chicago created a sustainable network to respond to the latest in a series of public health emergencies. In this respect, CERN is a roadmap for how a region can prepare to respond to public health emergencies, thereby preventing negative impacts through planning and implementation.
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lateef
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Bala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hota
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Landon
authors.affiliation: Lurie Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Larry K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kociolek
authors.affiliation: Chicago Department of Public Health.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Chicago Department of Public Health.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Noskin
authors.affiliation: Lurie Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curell
authors.affiliation: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galat
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ansell
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segreti
authors.affiliation: Lurie Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002641:Chicago; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Ebola; network; preparedness; public health