Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 DATE:                         July 17, 2006                         End Date:  August 18, 2006

 Contact Person:          Carrie Chanter, MA, CHES
                                       Genesee County Health Department 

 PHONE:                      (810) 768-7982

GCHD Participates in National Preparedness Project

        The Genesee County Health Department is one of five health departments from across the country selected to participate in the Promoting Emergency Preparedness and Readiness for Pandemic Influenza project (PREPARE for PI).  PREPARE for PI is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and organized by the RAND Corporation.

The project enables the participating public health departments to learn, practice, and apply quality improvement (QI) methods to enhance their preparedness for a pandemic influenza outbreak.  The specific goals of the GCHD project include:

• Minimizing the health and social impact of pandemic influenza in Genesee County by improving the accuracy, effectiveness, and timeliness of its risk communication.
• Developing the tools and implementing the technology to provide quick and clear communication to health department staff and to the public. 
• Cultivating a readiness among both the staff and the public to receive essential information and directives from the health department in the event of a pandemic flu or similar public health emergency.

       GCHD PREPARE for PI team is using what it learns to test several ideas for change that will accomplish the goals above. Ultimately, learned QI methodology will be used to improve all areas of GCHD operations, extending beyond pandemic preparedness. For further information regarding emergency preparedness, please visit the Health Department’s website at www.gchd.us.

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