Transcript Public Health Partnership - Center for Infectious Disease

What is point of dispensing (POD)
and when might a POD be needed?
 A site where medications or vaccines intended to prevent
disease may be given quickly to a large number of people
in the event of a public health emergency
 Needed if:
 An exposure of an infection is causing illness
AND
 Disease from that infection may be prevented through the
use of antibiotics or a vaccine
Local Public Health Responsibility
Get medications/ antibiotics
(prophylaxis) into 100% of
population within 36 hours.
Why 36 Hours?
 Worst Case Scenario based on Aerosolized Anthrax
 Spores proliferate, spread and produce toxins rapidly within
the lungs when inhaled
 Life-Threatening infectious disease
 Not likely but possible
 Plans can be utilized to address other slower moving
health issues such as pandemic flu
8 Public Health Regions in Minnesota
 Northwest
 Northeast
 West Central
 Central
 Metro
 Southwest
 South Central
 Southeast
Populations – 2010 Census
 State of Minnesota – 5,303,925
 Metro Counties Total – 2,751,294 – (51% of state)
 Hennepin (1)– 1,152,425
 Ramsey (2) – 508,640
 Dakota (3) – 398,552
 Anoka (4) – 330,844
 Washington (5) – 201,130
 Scott (10) – 89,498
 Carver (11) – 70,205
Strategies
 Open Point of Dispensing (POD) Sites
 Closed Point of Dispensing (POD) Sites
 Health Care



Long-Term Care/ Assisted Living
Clinics
Home Care Agencies
 Community Based Organizations
 Businesses
What are the benefits?
 Business Continuity/Asset Protection
 Keep your business open and going
Providing prophylaxis will prevent employees, clients and their family
members from becoming ill
 Good for you and for the public who will need supplies and services
 The Prep Act, passed by Congress in 2005, assures: “…protection from
liability…unless wilful misconduct.”

 Incentive for employees to come to work
 Good Public Relations
 Internally – tells your employees that you value them and realize they
are your most valuable resource
 Externally – tells the public that you value your employee along with
customers and want to stay open to serve them
How does this help us all?
 Consistent with basic National Incident Management
System (NIMS) principles
 All disasters begin locally
 All responses must begin locally
 Fewer people at Open PODs
 More people receive prophylaxis in timely manner
 Less chance of spread of disease
Less public fear and chaos
What are we asking of you?
 To partner with us to fulfill this responsibility by
becoming a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD)
 Prevent the spread of illness by providing prophylaxis
 Help to decrease the amount of time it takes to dispense to
100% of our population


Decrease the number of people who will need to go
to an Open Point of Dispensing Site
Provide more direct access to needed medications
for your employees, clients and their families
What does it require from you?
 Complete online Closed POD training (less than30 minutes)
 Develop plans to provide prophylaxis
 Identify and train people to fill roles within the Closed POD
 Pick up antibiotics from Local Distribution Node (LDN)
Responsibilities
Minnesota
Department of Health
• Triggers antibiotic
dispensing
• Begins distribution
of medication
• Provides
authorizations and
orders for
dispensing
Local Public Health
Department
• Notifies Closed POD
• Distributes
medication
• Communicates key
information to
partners
Closed POD
• Receives
notification and key
information
• Obtains
medications
• Begins dispensing
• Provides data to
local health
department