CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLANNING

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CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLANNING

• CT Department of Public Health
• Jill Kentfield, COOP Coordinator
• September 25, 2008

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Importance of COOP Planning

• Activated during any kind of emergency/disaster
  that affects staffing levels
• State/local governments, public health, health
  care providers are expected to develop COOPs
• Depending on the outside entities, help may not
  be available for 48 hours to many weeks
• Determine how you will keep your critical
  functions going when you are lacking staff

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The COOP Plan

• Should be readily available
• Updated frequently
• Written using common terminology and clear text
  (See NIMS/ICS structure)
• Designate person in charge who can access the
  plan and implement the protocols at a moments
  notice
• Train back-up personnel to assume roles

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National Incident Management System (NIMS)

• NIMS was created in response to the attacks on
  September 11.
• Improve the coordination of Federal, State, Local
  and private industry responses to incidents
• Has become the standard for emergency management
  across the country.
• Requires the use of the Incident Command System
  (ICS) for all responses.
• Requires all levels of Government to adopt the
  ICS.

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NIMS 700

• Link to this course can be found on
  https//ct.train.org/
• The course
• Introduces NIMS
• Takes approximately three hours to complete
• Explains the purpose, principles, key components
  and benefits of NIMS.
• Provides you with "Planning Activity" screens
  giving you an opportunity to complete some
  planning tasks during this course.
• Describes the chain of command in emergency
  response.
• Describes communication role(s) in emergency
  response.

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Incident Command System

• The Incident Command System (ICS) is a
  standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident
  management concept used in the United States.
• A management protocol originally designed for
  emergency management agencies such as police and
  fire.
• ICS provides a common framework which allows
  people to work together effectively. Even if
  these people do not routinely work together.
• Is flexible and can grow or shrink to meet
  individual needs.

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ICS

• Link to this course can be found on
  https//ct.train.org/
• ICS 100 introduces the Incident Command System
  (ICS)
• Provides the foundation for higher level ICS
  training
• Describes the history, features and principles,
  and organizational structure of the Incident
  Command System.
• Explains the relationship between ICS and the
  National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• ICS 200 focuses on ICS features describing in
  detail ICS features.
• Describe the chain of command in emergency
  response.
• Apply creative problem solving and flexible
  thinking to unusual challenges within an
  individuals functional responsibility and
  evaluate effectiveness of all actions taken.

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Connecticuts Goals

• Integrated and coordinated response of federal,
  state, regional, and local agencies
• Protection of lives and properties
• Continued operations and services as normally and
  effectively as possible in the event of a public
  health emergency

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State Preparation

• December 2005
• Governor Rell established interagency task force
• February 2006
• Pandemic Summit in Hartford
• October 2006 February 2007
• State Agency participation in COOP training
• State Agency COOP Plans drilled
• July 2008
• Creation of CTs Pandemic Flu Operations Plan

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  CT Influenza Interagency Task Force

• Meets monthly
• Communicate strategies
• Team approach
• Interoperability
• Coordination of policies

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State Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Education
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Interior
• Department of Labor
• Department of State
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Treasury
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Homeland Security Council
• Office of Personnel Management

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Public Health - Part of Larger Plan
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COOP - Part of Everyones Plan
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Planning Considerations

• Change in demand
• Impact on customers and suppliers
• Critical management functions
• Protocols to continue critical operations
• Legal requirements

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Staffing Considerations

• Identify essential employees
• Inform employees of your plan
• Ensure employees are trained
• Determine feasibility of work at home
• Plan for high employee absenteeism
• Determine if PPE is needed

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DPH COOP Planning Efforts

• DPH will function with lower staffing levels
• May not be available to respond to all requests
  for assistance
• DPH plan relies on the public health and health
  care community to maintain their critical
  functions
• Communication is key

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Components of DPH COOP Plan

• Planning Assumptions
• Agency Functions by Priority
• COOP Incident Management Team
• Continuity Strategies, Dependencies, Triggers and
  Supporting Elements
• Agency Functions by Priority and Strategy

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Functions by Priority

• Uninterruptible Functions
• Critical Functions
• Ongoing Functions
• Periodic Functions
• Occasional Functions

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DPH Uninterruptible Functions

• Administration
• Purchasing
• Shipping/Receiving/Mail Svcs
• Payroll/ Health insurance/ time and labor
• Scheduling/deploying staff
• Communications
• Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication
• Media Relations
• 509-8000 main line
• Maintain HAN/WANS and MEDSAT
• Government Relations Governor/Legislator
  requests

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DPH Uninterruptible Functions

• Health Care Systems
• Licensed health care institutions
• Licensure case prosecution
• Initial Licensing Licensure Renewal
• CT Nurse Aide Registry
• Oversee EMS Providers
• Operations
• Coordinate Preparedness/Emergency Response
• Planning Maintain Vital Records

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DPH Uninterruptible Functions

• Laboratory
• LIMS Maintain 24/7/365
• QA Incident Investigations Influenza Testing
• Accreditations/Certifications Rabies Testing
• Outbreak Investigations
• Testing for emerging agents
• Maintain evidence/chain of custody
• Maintain awareness with Hosp. Labs, ER's, etc
• Screen specimens for the presence of lead.
• Newborn Screening for 42 disorders
• Test for lead in paint, food, medicines, etc

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DPH Uninterruptible Functions

• Regulatory Services
• Community Provider Investigations
• WEAR Team/systems surveys
• Mutual aid among public water systems
• Assessment coordination of emergency
  declaration
• Well Siting Acute Quantity/Quality
• Emergency Investigations/Security
• Foodborne outbreak control coordination
  Foodborne Alert Investigation
• Respond to worker and safety questions
• Toxicology Site Assessment

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DPH Uninterruptible Functions

• Community Services
• WIC - Nutrition Services
• Vaccine Distribution
• Disease Reporting/ Investigations
• Emergency Countermeasures Protocols
• Partner notification services and Medication to
  STD medical personnel in CT
• Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and
  Medication Distribution

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Hows Your Plan Coming Along?
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Keeping Connecticut Healthy
www.ct.gov/dph www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch