Many States Still Fall Short in Emergency Preparedne...(c Disease Surveillance System. Anoth...),Health

Another speaker focused on the lack of preparedness of U.S. hospitals to handle public health emergencies.

"To get hospitals up to speed in terms of their disaster responsibility would require an initial investment of $5 billion and about $1 billion a year to maintain that level of preparedness," Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, said during the teleconference.

The funding for hospitals, which started at $500 million dollars, has dropped to around $400 million. "It's a situation that's going in reverse," Redlener noted.

One expert thinks progress has been made, but much more is needed to maintain and improve emergency preparedness in the United States.

"The report readily captures the breadth and complexity of the many dimensions involved in emergency preparedness," said Dr. Howard Koh, director of the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness, and the former Commissioner of Public Health of Massachusetts.

Preparedness is not an endpoint but rather a process of continuous improvement, Koh said.

"By that measure, the country has made advances in planning and coordination, but there are still many areas in need of improvement. For example, the broad challenge of surge capacity, that is the need to mobilize additional staff, supplies and space in the event of an emergency, remains a major issue, especially when the health-care system is already severely stretched," he said.

Because disasters are uncommon events, there should be greater emphasis on rigorous drills and exercises that demonstrate effective coordination and mobilization of the many partners involved, Koh said.

In addition, public trust is essential, Koh said. "We need to sustain a long-term public health commitment to build an enduring
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