Achieving PHIN Certification for Cascade Alerting

Following 9/11 a key communications strategy for each state was to develop alerting capabilities and states developed or purchased their Health Alert Network (HAN) system.  This filled a mission-critical need to provide emergency communications to key stakeholders within a state.  However, as the use of HAN developed in each state, the need for cross-border communications or cascade alerting became very apparent.  Partial solutions with bordering states were established using existing state HAN systems.

 As the need for cross border communications became more visible, the PHIN Certification requirements were updated to include cascade alerting.  This session focuses on these requirements and will consist of five parts:

1. Open discussion reviewing Direct Alerting certification.  This will include the security self assessment.
   
2. An overview of the Cascade Alerting requirements – we will review the current certification requirements and documents available to assist in certification.  The explanation will cross reference materials on the PHIN Certification Web site.
   
3. Possible options for each state and tools available to facilitate the implementation – we will discuss possible options and focus on tools available for the implementation.  The intent is to help states understand the best approach for their environment and what they need to consider.  Approaches for custom written HAN applications, purchased software and vendor outsourced environments will be discussed.  
   
4. Steps to be followed for certification – this will be a review of the certification process, people that should be involved and the timeline.
   
5. A panel discussion of states, CDC representatives and HAN vendors to answer questions.