Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1) understand how a satellite broadcast and tabletop exercise can build dialogue before an emergency; and 2) address legal aspects of pandemic influenza.

Background:
Previous trainings focused on the epidemiologic side of a pandemic. Feedback showed interest in legal issues surrounding pandemic influenza.

Setting:
Participants viewed the broadcast at downlink locations and conducted the exercise at local sites.

Population:
High-level decision-makers e.g., health officers, county counsels, local health department staff and other interested parties

Project Description:
The California Department of Health Services partnered with the California Distance Learning Health Network and the California Conference of Local Health Officers (CCLHO) to produce Pandemic Influenza and Public Health Law, a day-long training consisting of a 72-minute satellite broadcast and 3-hour tabletop exercise.
The broadcast consisted of CCLHO meeting presentations and interviews with local health officers. Topics: the need for cooperation among health departments, law enforcement, and other affected agencies; limiting the movement of individuals/groups; “reasonable grounds;” isolation; quarantine; school closures; confidentiality; conscription; and rationing.
The tabletop was designed to help health departments and their partners identify gaps in their pandemic influenza plans with respect to the legal ramifications of pandemic influenza and help them identify next steps to close those gaps.


Results/Lessons Learned:
Support from and participation by the local health officer was key to the training's success. The training provided an ideal venue for bringing together people not previously linked (e.g., health officers and police officers). Participants scheduled follow-up meetings to revise pandemic influenza plans.
Recommendations: combine distance learning and hands on training for superior results; limit attendees to a specific identified audience to achieve maximum relevance; begin training facilitators at least 6 months pre-exercise; provide training materials at least 2 weeks pre-training; include facilitator guides and toolkits; provide follow up combined training based on results.