POINT OF DISPENSING STAFF ORIENTATION

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POINT OF DISPENSING STAFF ORIENTATION
Wayne/Hamilton County Health Department405
North Basin Road Fairfield IL 62837618-842-5166
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Session Overview

• POD basics
• POD management
• POD roles and responsibilities
• Preparing to work at a POD

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Learning Objectives

• After completing this module, you will be able
  to describe
• The purpose of a Point of Dispensing (POD)
• The role of the Strategic National Stockpile
  (SNS) in a POD
• The general structure and operations of public
  health PODs
• How POD operations function within the Incident
  Command System (ICS)
• How you can prepare yourself and your family for
  the time you spend working in a POD

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POD basics

• MASS DISPENSING PLAN

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What is a POD?

• Point of dispensing (POD) - a place where a
  vaccine, antibiotic or other medication is
  dispensed quickly to a large group of people.

• General Public
• Self Dispensing Sites (i.e., Hospital, Nursing
  Homes, etc)
• First Responders

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Why would a POD be activated?

• Usually To prevent disease in those exposed to
  an infection but who are not yet sick (antiviral,
  vaccine)
• Possible To treat an infectious disease
• The treatment offered would be limited to
  dispensing a specific medication.

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What Kinds of EmergenciesMight Require a POD?

• Natural disaster
• Influenza pandemic
• Bioterrorism attack

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What is the Strategic National Stockpile ?

• A large CDC-managed stockpile of medicine and
  medical supplies to protect the American public
  if there is a public health emergency severe
  enough to cause local supplies to run out.

You can learn more about the Strategic National
Stockpile at http//www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile
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Strategic National Stockpile Components

• Push Pack/12 Hours
• Vendor Managed Inventory/ 24-36 hours

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SNS Responsibilities

• SNS
• Send medications / vaccines
• Provide technical assistance
• State and Local governments
• Demonstrate need for supplies
• Receive, stage and store supplies
• Dispense at community PODs
• Hospitals
• Dispense to personnel and patients

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How Will a POD Be Set Up?

• The layout of a POD is designed to facilitate
  accurate and rapid dispensing of a specific
  medication/vaccine
• Basic POD floor plan
• Variation
• Situation
• Local circumstances

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POD layout
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Where will PODs be located?

• POD locations must be
• Appropriate in size and layout
• Able to be secured
• Accessible by all

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How will a POD be staffed?

• It takes many people to run a POD
• Number and mix of skills needed will depends on
  situation
• Source of staff
• Public health and hospital staff members
• Other first responders
• Volunteers

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POD Management

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How will POD operations be managed?

• Using the Incident Command System which is part
  of the National Incident Management System
  (NIMS).
• In compliance with
• with good emergency response practice
• federal requirements
• Time and crisis tested

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What is the National Incident Management System?

• A core set of doctrines, principles, terminology,
  and organizational processes
• Developed by the US Department of Homeland
  Security
• For planning and response to any emergency on the
  local, regional, state and national levels

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What is the Incident Command System?

• A management model for command, control and
  coordination of an organizations emergency
  response activities
• Applies to management of facilities, equipment,
  personnel, procedures, and communications

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Incident Command Leadership
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Operations Section Chief
POD Operations Section Organizational Structure
Floater/Greeter Unit Leader
Triage Unit Leader
Security Task Force 1 (Interior)
Forms Distribution Unit Leader
Pharmacy Unit Leader
Security Task Force 2 (Exterior)
Video Orientation Unit Leader (as required)
Vaccine/Prophy Abx Unit Leader
Interior Clinic Traffic Control Unit
Child Care Unit Leader
Exit/Evaluation Unit Leader
EMS/Transfer Unit Leader
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ICS essentials for POD workers

• You will be assigned a role with a limited and
  specific set of tasks to perform
• You will report to one and only one supervisor
• As a POD supervisor, you will have a limited
  number of people reporting to you (span of
  control 3-7)

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Incident Command Essentials for POD workers

• Incident Commander is the boss
• All POD activities are designed to meet the
  objectives set by the Incident Commander
• Effective communication is key

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Successful communication is key

• Do not use jargon or acronyms
• Only the Public Information Officer may speak
  with the media
• Follow your supervisors guidance on
  communication with friends and family
• Report rumors directly to your supervisor
• Know how to use any communication equipment
  assigned to you

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POD roles and responsibilities
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How Will You Know When and Where to Respond?

• If you are needed, you will be
• contacted by a designated person in health
  department
• given specific information about where and when
  to report
• On site, you will report to the staff sign-in
  area where you will be given an assignment

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How Long Will You Be Working in the POD?

• Shifts are usually 8-12 hours
• The POD will be in operation until the mission
  has been achieved

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What Should You Bring ?

• Bring as little as possible
• Bring
• Photo identification required
• POD Go Pak
• Specific equipment, as requested e.g.
  stethoscope
• Food will be provided to you while you work at
  the POD

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How Will You Know What to Do When You Arrive at
the POD?

• Job Action Sheet
• Just-in-time training

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Job Action Sheet

• Job title
• Job mission
• To whom you report
• Tasks to perform

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Just-in-time Training

• The training delivered at the time of an incident
  
• Focused on providing the knowledge and skills you
  need to fill your role

JITT for short
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How Will You be Assigned a Role?

• Incident Commander or designee will assign a role
  based on
• Your skills
• Needs of the operation
• You may be re-assigned as the needs of the
  operation change

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POD roles
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How Will You be Protected?
All appropriate precautions will be taken to
protect POD workers.

• Vaccination or medication being dispensed before
  the POD opens
• Supply and training on appropriate personal
  protective equipment
• Safety officer always present
• Facilities for food rest

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Dealing with stress

• Working at a POD may be stressful
• Monitor self and others for signs of stress and
  fatigue
• POD attendees and co-workers may vent anger -
  dont take it personally
• Mental health workers will be available on site
• Report any serious problems to your supervisor.

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What are signs of stress and fatigue?

• Lack of concentration
• Increased number of non-critical errors
• Critical errors
• Irritability
• Worry
• Feeling ill

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What Are Ethical Guidelines for Working in a POD?

• Treat members of the public with fairness
• and respect
• Courtesy
• Confidentiality
• No favoritism or discrimination
• Dont spread rumors
• Honor your commitment to work at a POD until the
  mission is complete
• Your fellow staff members and the public
• are relying on you.

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What Do You Do When It's Time to Leave?

• Your supervisor will tell you when
  your shift is complete
• When leaving your supervisor
  may ask you to
• brief him/her
• turn in a report or equipment
• Always check out at the staff desk any time you
  leave a POD

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What Do You Do When It's Time to Leave?

• Your supervisor will tell you when the mission is
  complete and your service is no longer needed
• You will be asked to participate in a debriefing
  called a hot wash

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What liability protection am I afforded?

• Health department employee
• Hospital employee
• Volunteer
• Licensed medical professional
• Member of MRC or other organization

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Where Can You Get Additional Training?

• Wayne/Hamilton County Health Department618-842-5
  166
• www.WayneCountyHealthDept.org
• www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/

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Conclusion

1. A POD is established to dispense a vaccine,
   antibiotic or other medication quickly to a large
   group of people usually to prevent disease.
2. The clinic flow is intended to maximize movement
   through the POD.
3. PODs are managed using the Incident Command
   System.

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Conclusion

1. Each POD worker will be assigned a specific role
   which will be described in a Job Action Sheet.
2. Safety of POD workers is paramount.
3. Plan and train now to be an effective POD worker.