HHS recently announced two efforts to shore up U.S. defenses against potential bioterrorist attacks -- even as a report released July 8 criticized the readiness of five key federal biodefense agencies to handle such events.
One initiative will boost the number of officers entering the Public Health Service Commis-sioned Corps and enhance their training for public health threats, including bioterrorist events. The other effort is the product of an HHS-funded research drive -- a computerized staffing model for use in the event of a bioterrorist attack or large-scale natural disease outbreak.
In the July 8 report, the Partnership for Public Service said the CDC, FDA, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Food Safety and Inspection Service lack the medical and scientific expertise needed to deal effectively with a bioterrorist attack. That assessment was based on a review of the technical literature and on interviews with leading biodefense authorities from the private and public sectors.
Among problems plaguing the federal workforce are an "anachronistic" hiring process and "rigid pay schedules" that frustrate recruitment and retention attempts, said the report. Biodefense experts who enter civil service aren't supported in their work, the report added. Consider, too, that half of the experts in the current federal workforce will become eligible for retirement within five years, and the looming crisis in "human capital" becomes clear.
What's needed, the report said, is a cohesive strategy to attract and hold "the best minds in medicine and biology." That strategy should include four actions:
The report may be downloaded as a PDF file at http://www.ourpublicservice.org/usr_doc/Homeland_Insecurity_Report_(July_2003).pdf . For help using PDF files, visit http://www.aafp.org/pdf.xml.
Shortly before the report was released, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the availability of a computer model to help hospitals and health systems plan their responses to a bioterrorist event or large-scale natural disease outbreak. The model can be downloaded as a spreadsheet and used to calculate the specific personnel needs of local health systems based on current staff numbers and the anticipated influx of patients after a bioterrorist attack.
Thompson praised Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, which developed the tool, and other HHS-funded research institutions "providing health care systems with the critical information and tools they'll need in responding to the unthinkable." A press release with links to the model is at http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2003/btmodpr.htm.
On July 3, Thompson announced a plan to revitalize the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The agency, he said, would begin recruiting more health professionals and enhancing officer training to better respond to the nation's emergency health needs.
"As we face an uncertain future of possible terrorist attacks, emerging infectious diseases, natural disasters, and other prevention or public health needs, this transformation will help us strengthen our public health infrastructure and response system to better serve the American people," Thompson said. Visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030703.html for more information on this HHS initiative.
To reach writer Cindy Borgmeyer, e-mail cborgmey@aafp.org.
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