2.1: Health Care Capacity
Build the capacity of the health care system to respond to public health threats in a more timely and effective manner, especially
bioterrorism threats
Other Information:
How We Will Accomplish Our Objective - Upgrade the capacity of federal, state, tribal, and local public health systems (private
and public), hospitals, and other health care facilities. - Upgrade the Nation’s laboratory capacity to quickly identify and
characterize suspected biological threat substances and respond to actual incidents. - Create a national electronic communications
(surveillance and response) system to link federal, state, tribal, and local public health and other health officials, health
care providers, and other emergency responders, so that relevant information regarding public health threats can be rapidly
shared. - Establish “continuity of operations” plans to ensure that personnel and analytical capability will still be operational
in the event of a terrorist attack. - Facilitate the development and availability of medical countermeasures to limit the
effects of a terrorist attack on the civilian or military populations. - Identify shortages that exist in the healthcare workforce
and upgrade the skills of the health care workforce, including first responders, emergency personnel, and mental health workers.
- Increase the size and skills of the fully deployable PHS Commissioned Corps. - Ensure the safety and security of personnel,
physical assets, and sensitive information. - Cooperate with other countries and with international organizations to enhance
bioterrorism preparedness and response. - Conduct and support research to produce more effective vaccines, therapeutics, rapid
diagnostic tests and other monitoring technologies to address bioterrorism and other public health threats, such as SARS.
- Ensure the security of food and medical products.
Indicator(s):
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