Information Sharing

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Information Sharing
Georgia Public Health and Homeland Security
Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. Division of
Public Health Georgia Department of Human
Resources
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Information Sharing for Homeland Security Response
State District Local
Internal
Public Health
Health Care Providers Law enforcement Emergency
management Public Media
External
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Georgia Public Health
State-based Public Health - State Office
(Atlanta) - 19 Public Health Districts 159
County Boards of Health
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Pre-2001 Communication Infrastructure
Internal public health communication only

• Georgia was an original INPHO state
• Connectivity between State and District offices
  only
• No systematic communication with any
  Homeland Security partners

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Pre-2001 information infrastructure
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Public Health Response Communication Chain
Current Georgia Model
Office of
Homeland Security
Commissioner, DHR
Governors Office
Homeland Security Agencies
State Health
District Health
Directors
Officer
DPH Emergency
Preparedness Team
Dept Ag
DPH Epi
CDC
District/County PH
GEMA
Local Officials
District
Law Enforcement
DHR Risk
Emergency
EMS
District
GPHLab
Communications
EMA
Coordinators
Epis
Hospitals
EMAs
Infection Control
Practitioners
GA Information
Media
District Risk
Emergency Rooms
Sharing
Communications
Community Health
Analysis Center
Centers
(GISAC)
General Public
Local MDs
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Homeland Security Task Force
William W. Bill Hichens, Jr. Director Georgia
Office of Homeland Security
Major General David Poythress Adjutant General of
Georgia Georgia Department of Defense
Mike Sherberger Director Georgia Emergency
Management Agency
Lonice C. Barrett Commissioner Georgia Department
of Natural Resources
Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. Director Division
of Public Health Georgia Department of Human
Resources
Harold Linnekohl Commissioner Georgia
Department of Transportation
Frank V. Rotondo Executive Director Georgia
Association of Chiefs of Police
Sheriff Stanley Tuggle Georgia Sheriffs
Association
Chief Rebecca Denlinger Georgia Association of
Fire Chiefs
George A. Ellis Colonel/Commissioner Georgia
State Patrol
Vernon M. Keenan Director Georgia Bureau of
Investigation
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Georgia Homeland Security Task Force

• Created October 2001
• Director of Public Health is full member
• PH representation on multi-disciplinary working
  groups
• Weekly Meetings with in-depth information sharing

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GISAC (Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis
Center)

• Co-located with the Atlanta FBI office
• Collects, evaluates, and disseminates
  intelligence and threat information

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Department of Agriculture Coordination

• Active member of Homeland Security Task Force
  and working groups
• Legislation made animal diseases reportable
• Reporting system for animal diseases, parallel to
  Public Health system
• Web-based disease reporting
• Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis
  Center notifications and access to secure web
  site
• Training including Ag inspectors of retail
  establishments and food processing plants

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Public Health Epidemiologic Health Data
Infrastructure

• Strong State-based Epi Capacity
• District Epidemiologists
• District Emergency Preparedness Coordinators and
  Specialists
• District Risk Communicators
• Public Health District Liaisons
• Office of Health Information and Policy
• OASIS On-line Statistical Information System

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SENDSS State Electronic Notifiable Diseases
Surveillance System
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Communications about Public Health Threats

• 1-866-PUB-HLTH (PH, GEMA, Medical Community)
  24/7 Toll-free Reporting
• Incident Reports (GEMA, GISAC, HLS)
• Protocol Development for Response to Suspicious
  Substances (FBI, GEMA, Lab, Epidemiology,
  Emergency Preparedness)
• Forensic Epidemiology Training with Law
  Enforcement

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