Public Comment

Attachment G

Public Comment

Public Comment

CDC ID# 0920-14QJ

Project Title: Evaluation of Hospital Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies and Mass Causality Events Project

public comment on federal register
if the visitors to arab countris were kept out that would eliminate merse epidemics and the ebola countries also need to be kept out of america. it seems our inept govt wants disease to enter this country when it could take steps to stop visitation from these countries. no americans should suffer from disease brought into this country. this agency seems inept as the us govt in truly protecting america. i also dont believe telephone calls to ceos are necessary. just send out forms. the spending in this dept is out of control and needs to be cut. this comment is for the pubilc record. please receipt. jeanpublic

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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]

[Notices]

[Pages 24440-24441]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2014-09762]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-14-14QJ]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and

Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on

proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.

To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a

copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-7570

and send comments to LeRoy, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA

30333 or send an email to [email protected].

    Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways

to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,

including through the use of automated collection techniques or other

forms of information technology. Written comments should be received

within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Evaluation of Hospital Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies

and Mass Causality Events Project--New--National Center for Injury

Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Hospital preparedness for responding to public health emergencies

including mass casualty incidents and epidemics have become a major

national challenge. Following the World Trade Center attack of

September 11, Hurricane Katrina of 2005, and the 2011 Alabama

tornadoes, there is continued and heightened interest of using surveys

to assess hospital readiness for various disasters and mass casualty

incidents. Current patterns in terrorist activity increase the

potential for civilian casualties from explosions. Explosions,

particularly in confined spaces, can inflict severe multisystem

injuries on numerous patients and produce unique challenges to health

care providers and the systems that support them. The U.S. healthcare

system and its civilian healthcare providers have minimal experience in

treating patients with explosion-related injuries and deficiencies in

response capability could result in increased morbidity and mortality

and increased stress and fear in the community. Additionally, the surge

of patients after an explosion typically occurs within minutes of the

event and can quickly overwhelm nearby hospital resources. This

potential for many casualties and an immediate surge of patients may

stress and limit the ability of EMS systems, hospitals, and other

health care facilities to care for critically injured victims.

    CDC requests a 6-month Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

approval to collect readiness and preparedness data. The purpose of

this project will be to (1) develop and pilot an interview tool to

assess hospital readiness for a rapid surge of large numbers of

casualties; (2) develop minimum standards into the assessment tool to

enable a review or an evaluation of hospital readiness and (3) develop

strategies for dissemination and implementation of the interview tool.

    A national sample of randomly selected hospitals will be selected

for participation. Four hundred Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from

sampled hospitals will be mailed an introductory letter, contacted by

telephone a few days later and asked if the hospital's emergency

preparedness coordinator/manager can complete the survey. The time to

read and respond to the introductory letter is expected to take 17

minutes. The emergency preparedness coordinator/manager will complete

the main survey online using the survey Web site with a goal of 320

completed surveys. CDC estimated the total time required to complete

the survey as two hours, including reading the instructions. The survey

covers hospital preparedness efforts across departments, number of

staff, participation in training and exercises, agreements with other

responders, and hospital characteristics.

    After data are gathered from the survey, responses will be

compiled, analyzed and summarized. The results will be used to develop

an implementation manual, training

[[Page 24441]]

materials and dissemination plan for dissemination. A final study

report will also be created.

    There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

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                                                                     Number of    Average burden

      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden

                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)

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CEO...........................  Screen..........             400               1           17/60             113

Emergency Preparedness          320.............               1               2             640

Coordinator/Manager Survey.

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    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             753

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