Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) is the capacity a community has to address health emergencies of several types. PHEP utilizes public health and heath care partners to prevent and respond to emergencies and build a network of individuals and organizations who act as a community's support system during public health emergencies.
What is a Public Health Emergency?
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency defines public health emergencies as "an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition, caused by bio terrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or an infectious agent or biological toxin, that poses a substantial risk to humans by either causing a significant number of human fatalities or permanent or long-term disability."
Public health emergencies can impact populations of people in cities or towns, states, regions, and even across countries or the world (like we saw with the COVID-19 pandemic).
The Public Health Network role in Emergency Preparedness
Guidance: Annual evidence-based guidance to ensure state and local jurisdictions have the most current information to better protect their communities
Technical Assistance: Operational know-how to ensure state and local public health departments are ready to respond
Evaluation: Measurement and evaluation of our region's capability to prepare for any public health emergency
Public Health Emergency Response in Action:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SCPHN worked with partners across our communities to provide vaccines, test kits, and other resources as well as information to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our region.
Our team continues to take active steps to prevent the spread of COVID19, and inform and educate our community members about the best ways to avoid getting sick, or spreading sickness.
If you need help finding a COVID vaccine, test or other resource, please reach out to us at SCPHN@goodwinch.org
For more information visit:
Want to get involved?
Public Health Emergency Preparedness takes many forms, and volunteers are a vital part of the response team. Volunteers of various backgrounds can serve their community through help with everything from assisting during community drills, to spreading the word about Emergency Preparedness at events.
For Healthcare providers:
- NH Responds is New Hampshire's system for advance volunteer registration for emergencies - great resource to get involved in PHEP.
For Individuals, organizations and anyone looking to get involved:
- Contact us at SCPHN@GoodwinCH.orgto learn more about getting involved in you community's Public Health Network.