Table 3

Common Challenges Observed Across Participating Health Departments

Issue Area

Observed Challenges

Surveillance and investigation

• Notification of non-hospital health care providers

• Level and type of staff involvement

• Laboratory sample handling and processing

Communications

• Reactive, passive media contacts

• Reaching vulnerable populations

• Communicating with response partners

Command and control

• Full implementation of ICS and EOC

• Handoffs between local and state

• Expectations regarding the CDC

Medical surge capacity

• Concrete planning

• Accurately counting staff

• Recruiting, training, and mobilizing volunteers

Dausey et al. BMC Public Health 2007 7:92   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-92