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Health Topic
Updated: 4/19/2010
Project Public Health Ready (PPHR)
Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a competency-based
training and recognition program that assesses preparedness
and assists local health departments, working collaboratively
as a region, to respond to emergencies. It builds preparedness
capacity and capability through a continuous quality improvement
model. PPHR criteria focus on three project goals: all hazards
preparedness planning, workforce capacity development, and
quality improvement through exercises and real-events. This
program has a comprehensive list of standards that must be
met in order to achieve Project Public Health Ready recognition.
As of 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Health
has decided to strive for statewide PPHR recognition by requiring
county and municipal health departments to participate in
the program incorporating these activities into the Public
Health Preparedness grant goals and objectives.
The Bethlehem Health Bureau had received Project
Public Health Ready recognition in 2007, after a year of intense
work creating an all-hazards emergency response plan for public
health, facilitating monthly staff trainings, and holding
drills and exercises to test our plans. Since we have achieved
this status, the Health Bureau consistently updated and maintained
all emergency operations plans, as well as provided necessary
trainings and exercises to staff, volunteers and stakeholders
to strengthen our emergency preparedness efforts.
To earn Project Public Health Ready recognition
in 2011, the Bethlehem Health Bureau will need to resubmit
our current plans and processes to the National Association
of City and County Health Officials that includes the following
activities:
- Review and update the existing emergency response plan
and ensure that our plans address the most current criteria
and best practices available,
- Create a training needs assessment for health bureau staff
to identify their training needs, as they relate to public
health preparedness, and, from the results of this assessment,
create a new staff training program,
- Develop new exercises involving key partners from City
of Bethlehem departments and community partners.
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