NACCHO funded six local health departments (LHDs) for the Pathways for Robust Equity in Preventive Actions and Response Efforts in Healthcare Settings (PREPARE) Project. The PREPARE Project was established to strengthen local health department (LHD) capacity in equitable outbreak prevention and response of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (HAI/AR) threats in healthcare settings. 

The aim of the project was for LHDs to pilot and operationalize the NACCHO-developed equity framework for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings, as well as leverage the LHD Data Utilization and Management for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings Guide and the Strategic Collaboration for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings Guide to increase LHD capacity in the following areas:

• Support LHD capacity for an equity-focused approach to outbreak response and prevention in healthcare settings;
• Enhance skills to prevent, respond to, and monitor healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (HAI/AR);
• Strengthen effective data utilization and management to support outbreak prevention and response within healthcare settings;
• Develop and identify resources, lessons learned, and best practices for other LHDs; and
• Build and sustain strategic collaborations and partnerships.

Participating sites were asked to share their experiences with the project and lessons learned for other local health departments.

Summary of Erie County’s work

Prior to the PREPARE grant, Erie County Health Department (ECHD) struggled with consistent and regular communication with all long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in the jurisdiction. This was mainly attributed to high staff turnover rates at these facilities, specifically within the position of Infection Preventionists. ECHD realized that they are the integral role in maintaining contact between LTCFs to relay messaging and implement health-related mitigation strategies. Among other activities taken to improve communications, LTCF residents, staff, and families were invited to attend an ECHD-sponsored health event focused on a variety of topics including emergency preparedness, food safety, and more. The idea to initiate this was attributed to the grant.

 You can view Erie County’s full story here. 

For more information on the PREPARE grant, email [email protected].

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