Rural Public Health Practice

The University of Pittsburgh Center for Rural Health Practice (CRHP) is the rural coordinating unit of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Public Health Preparedness (UPCPHP), assuring that new training initiatives reflect issues related to rural health preparedness.
Projects
- Rural Preparedness Training Programs
- Courthouse Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies
- National Rural Preparedness Agenda
- Other Recent Activities
In the Spotlight
Preparedness Center - OSHA Alliance formed Read more
WEBCAST - Mass Evacuation to Rural Communities
9 Nov 2006 - The presenters shared results of a recent survey regarding potential behavioral responses of large populations to disaster events - including terrorist attacks - and discussed key concerns for rural communities to consider as they plan for mass exodus from urban centers. They also shared new efforts underway by the recently funded Advanced Practice Center in western New York.
Rural Preparedness Training Programs
Why Rural Preparedness Training
PubMed - Rural preparedness entries, all dates
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has one of the nation's largest rural populations with estimates of more than 2.8 million rural residents. Forty-eight of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are classified rural, and 18 of the remaining 19 counties have rural municipalities.
Pennsylvania also has the lowest ration of public health workers to population in the nation; 37 per 100,000. These workers are mostly concentrated in urban areas and are largely comprised of the staffs of the state health department and 10 independent health departments.
Given the sparse governmental public health workforce, rural public health response in Pennsylvania must rely on traditional responders including hospitals, voluntary services organizations, EMTs, fire, and police. To assure continuity with the integrated emergency management system, it is critical that all of these responders understand and fulfill the role of public health relative to emergency preparedness.
About the Rural Preparedness Training Program
The UPCPHP and the CRHP provide in-person, county-level training, targeting Pennsylvania's 48 rural counties. County EMA directors are recruited to host trainings and bring together all of their rural responders. Regional occupational safety and health administrative officers, EMA directors, and local Pennsylvania Department of Health staff are invited to present components of the training to assure connectedness to local issues and concerns.
Audience:
- Emergency Medical Service
- Emergency Management
- Law Enforcement
- Fire Service
- Hazmat Teams
- Public Works
- Government Leadership
- Public Safety Communications
- Public Health
- Hospital and Health Care
- Agriculture and Veterinary Services
- Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other Voluntary Organizations
Course Length and Continuing Education Certification
This four-to-six hour course is adaptable to each county and designed to address local needs. An optional scenario-style exercise is available for the six-hour class.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded to each program participant. Course completion also fulfills 4 CE credit hours for EMTs and Paramedics.
Textbook
All participants also receive copies of the training textbook: Rural Emergency Preparedness. What All Rural Responders Must Know About Public Health Emergencies. A statewide Rural Preparedness Task Force reflecting 20 rural response sectors convened to provide expertise and guidance in the development of the textbook and training. Based on their recommendations, the content includes:
- Understanding the role of local hospitals and laboratories in supporting disease control;
- Mass care;
- Communicating basic infection control practices;
- Legal issues;
- Protecting yourself, your family, patients, and others;
- Disaster mental health issues;
- Knowing where to turn for further information and training;
- And other topics related to rural preparedness.
Costs and Location
Trainings are FREE and are held on-site at designated county/regional counter-terrorism task force locations. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the participant and are not included.
Upcoming Trainings
Contact
For further information or to schedule a training, contact:
Sherie Wallace
Rural Preparedness Project Coordinator
University of Pittsburgh Center for Rural Health Practice
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
300 Campus Drive
Bradford, PA 16701
Phone: 814-362-5050
Fax: 814-362-5044
Email: saw46@pitt.edu
Courthouse Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies
In collaboration with the UPCPHP and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, CRHP published Courthouse Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies. This document is a planning tool for county courthouse preparedness that provides detailed steps for planning and response that can be carried out by courthouse personnel. It can be accessed by contacting the Center at 814-362-5050, and a PDF version can be downloaded from here or the CRHP Web site. A CD-ROM containing all of the planning templates and supporting materials is also included with the hard copy text.
Courthouse Preparedness Booklet (pdf)
National Rural Preparedness Agenda
Preparing for Public Health Emergencies: Meeting the Challenges in Rural America, an independent report highlighting rural public health preparedness challenges and concerns, was unveiled at a formal press conference in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2005. This report stemmed from the collaboration of five major universities: the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard, Texas A&M, the University of Minnesota, and the University of North Carolina. The report includes strategies and recommendations for addressing the preparedness challenges facing rural America, citing the need to strengthen public health and health care systems. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) have served as legislative supporters for this report. Copies of the report can be accessed in PDF format by clicking here.
Other Recent Activities
View map to see where trainings have taken place.
Center for Rural Health Practice (CRHP)
