Using Timely Survey-Based Information Networks to Collect Data on Best Practices for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: Illustrative Case From the American College of Emergency Physicians' Ebola Surveys.
Using the example of surveys conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) regarding the management of Ebola cases in the United States, we aimed to demonstrate how survey-based information networks can provide timely data to inform best practices in responding to public health emergencies.



ACEP conducted 3 surveys among its members in October to November 2014 to assess the state of Ebola preparedness in emergency departments. We analyzed the surveys to illustrate the types of information that can be gleaned from such surveys. We analyzed qualitative data through theme extraction and collected quantitative results through cross-tabulations and logistic regression examining associations between outcomes and potential contributing factors.



In the first survey, most respondents perceived their hospital as being reasonably prepared for Ebola. The second survey revealed significant associations between a hospital's preparedness and its perceived ability to admit Ebola patients. The third survey identified 3 hospital characteristics that were significantly and independently associated with perceived ability to admit Ebola patients: large size, previous Ebola screening experience, and physician- and nurse-led hospital preparedness.



Professional associations can use their member networks to collect timely survey data to inform best practices during and immediately after public health emergencies. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:681-690).
1Department of Emergency Medicine,University of Michigan,Ann Arbor,Michigan, andRAND Corporation.
Mahshid
M
Abir
2RAND Corporation,Arlington,Virginia.
Melinda
M
Moore
3Pardee RAND Graduate School,RAND Corporation,Santa Monica,California.
Margaret
M
Chamberlin
4Department of Emergency Medicine,University of California, Irvine (UCI),Center for Disaster Medical Sciences,Irvine,California.
Kristi L
KL
Koenig
5Departments of Emergency Medicine and of Epidemiology and Public Health,University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
Jon Mark
JM
Hirshon
6American College of Emergency Physicians,Irving,Texas.
Cynthia
C
Singh
7Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine,Hempstead,New York.
Sandra
S
Schneider
10Department of Emergency Medicine Denver Health Medical Center,University of Colorado School of Medicine,Denver,Colorado.
Stephen
S
Cantrill
D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000639:trends*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
Ebola; emergency care; hospital preparedness; public health; surveys