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PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR OPERATING A SPECIFIC FACILITY
Operations. A Site Operation Plan is essential in ensuring smooth activation and utilization of any facility. Learn more about operations in the I & Q Response section.
Staffing. Our planning process underscored the need to build internal systems for the rapid and efficient redeployment of agency staff. We had to identify appropriate responder roles while ensuring the continuity of essential Public Health functions. Learn more about staffing in the I & Q Response section.
Transportation. It may become the responsibility of Public Health to provide transportation for those detained in a community-based facility in the event of isolation/quarantine. Law enforcement and emergency medical services agencies are likely community partners to help with transportation issues.
Meeting individual needs. Once Public Health assumes responsibility for individuals who are being isolated or quarantined, we must ensure that their primary needs (food, medical, spiritual) are met. As Public Health is not expert in providing meals and other social services community partners are enlisted to meet those needs.
Release. Generally, the Local Health Officer or designee, in consultation with the Disease Control Officer, will determine to release an individual from isolation or quarantine based specific criteria identified in the Site Operation Plan.
Staffing. Our planning process underscored the need to build internal systems for the rapid and efficient redeployment of agency staff. We had to identify appropriate responder roles while ensuring the continuity of essential Public Health functions. Learn more about staffing in the I & Q Response section.
Transportation. It may become the responsibility of Public Health to provide transportation for those detained in a community-based facility in the event of isolation/quarantine. Law enforcement and emergency medical services agencies are likely community partners to help with transportation issues.
Meeting individual needs. Once Public Health assumes responsibility for individuals who are being isolated or quarantined, we must ensure that their primary needs (food, medical, spiritual) are met. As Public Health is not expert in providing meals and other social services community partners are enlisted to meet those needs.
Release. Generally, the Local Health Officer or designee, in consultation with the Disease Control Officer, will determine to release an individual from isolation or quarantine based specific criteria identified in the Site Operation Plan.
Isolation & Quarantine
Facility Operations
Core Elements of Planning
FACILITY SEARCH
We used the following steps in our facility site search process. A Facilities Needs Assessment was conducted and produced helpful results for planning. Although the following steps may not follow a succinct order, the Needs Assessment and these steps outlined below provide a starting point for your planning considerations.
Facility Operations
Core Elements of Planning
FACILITY SEARCH
We used the following steps in our facility site search process. A Facilities Needs Assessment was conducted and produced helpful results for planning. Although the following steps may not follow a succinct order, the Needs Assessment and these steps outlined below provide a starting point for your planning considerations.
- Determine what needs you want your facility to meet: isolation, quarantine, mass patient care, and/or mass acute care.
- Identify the array of facility options available.
- Work with leadership in your organization to identify what potential options they support.
- Identify any specific public facilities (city, county, state) that are available.
- Identify any specific private facilities that may be available.
- Develop strategic partnerships.
HINT: Hospitals providers may be enthusiastic about collaborating on an alternate care facility model because it could meet their need to protect hospital resources for in-patient care, in addition to potential use as an isolation/quarantine facility.
- Recognize the potential for stigma associated with site selection.
HINT: As public support for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill populations diminishes, states are likely to have facilities originally built for these populations sitting empty.
- Determine the potential long-term impact of your choices.
- Determine your liability.
- Determine how you can mitigate that liability.
- Accept that there may not be a one-size-fits-all approach to site selection. Nor is there necessarily a right or best answer. Plan for scalability and flexibility.
- Assess the suitability of potential sites.
- Conduct security assessment with law enforcement partners
- Conduct ventilation assessment with a mechanical engineer, environmental health staff, and your CD-Epi staff
- Develop specific objectives for your Facility Partner Agreement with a specific site.
- Identify roles and responsibilities for Public Health and site management.
- Identify the type of expenses you will and will not compensate.
- Identify how you will restore the site after use.
