understanding the health system impact of the spillover effect after hurricane sandy thomas...

Understanding the Health System Impact of the Spillover Effect After Hurricane Sandy

Thomas Chandler, PhD, Benita Panigrahi, MD, David Abramson, PhD, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, MBA, MPH,

Noelle Gallant, MA

Sandy: The 700 Year Storm?• Knocked power out for 8 million people• 32 ft wave recorded in New York Harbor• 3 feet of snow in West Virginia

http://ncdp.columbia.edu/microsite-page/hurricane-sandy-october-2012/sandy-recovery-1-year-later/

Capacity

Competency

Capability

Interviews and Focus Groups

Capacity

Competency

• EOC Communication systems not compatible

• Lack of usage of EOC systems

• Lack of familiarity with procedures

• An aging workforce with no sign of backfill

• Losing institutional memory

• Concurrent budget cuts

Capability: Effective communication among different departments and organizations

Emerging Theme

“The Spillover Effect”

• The unintended shift in baseline health system (PH + HCD) dynamics months after recovery from a disaster.

Vulnerable Populations

Disaster 12 months 18 months

Routine needs of vulnerable populations

Routine capacity of HSO’s

Post-disaster capacity of HSO’sDisaster CM capacity

Post-disaster needs of vulnerable populations

New York Academy of Medicine, North Shore LIJ, An Opportunity to Innovate: The Aging of Eastern Queens and Nassau County

Training Program

• Continuity of Operations Planning

• Case Interviewing for Outbreak Investigations

• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving Under Emergency Conditions

• Usage of Social Media during Disasters

Continuity of Operations Planning

“Mission Critical”

Protected

Redundant – Back up

Systems

Staff Roles + Organization (ICS)

Communication Plan

Coordination with Emergency Mgmt + PH

Organization & Leadership

Communicate Plan

Resources Available & Needed

Services + Client /

Stakeholder Support

Online Training

• ncdp.crlctraining.org

Implications

• 1/3 of all Americans live in counties immediately bordering the oceans

• The sea level will continue to rise this century and impact storms like Hurricane Sandy

The Aging of America