Department of Homeland Security Funded Projects
Deliver Web-based Continuing Education Courses for Veterinarians, Animal Health and Homeland Security Professionals
Center for Food Security and Public Health-Iowa State University
PI: James A. Roth
Co-PI: Glenda D. Dvorak
Co-PI: Claire B. Andreasen
07/01/2010 – 06/30/2016
Abstract:
The overall goal of this project is to increase available online educational resources related to the preparedness and response measures needed for livestock (and poultry) infectious disease emergencies and other animal health emergencies. The overall anticipated outcome of this project is that it will help develop a better prepared animal health and emergency response workforce who will be better able to respond to the threat of an animal disease emergency. Because of the ease and accessibility provided by the internet, local responders located across the country can be trained in preparedness. The two online courses described in the current year’s project will enable responders at the local, state, regional and national level to better prepare for and respond to these emergencies in efforts to protect local and national agricultural infrastructure, animal health and public health. Deliverables for the current year’s project include the continued offering of a 4-hour Preparedness for Animal Health Emergencies online course, which includes a Resource Manual; and development and delivery of a 2-hour Animal Disease Emergencies online course as part of the Approved Federal Sponsored Course Catalog.
Overall Project Summary:
Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals(EEDA): During the first year of the project, CEEZAD provided support to enhance this course. Those enhancements are part of the content that is used in all U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine and by veterinarians who are seeking first-time accreditation. The course contains information on interaction with USDA and DHS officials and on what to expect when working in disease outbreak situations, including the Incident Command System. More than 28,000 veterinary students and veterinarians have taken this course since its inception. Almost 5000 individuals take this course each year (students at veterinary colleges as part of the EEDA/Initial Accreditation Training, veterinarians who have never been accredited through the initial accreditation course, or veterinarians and other officials who take the course sponsored by CEEZAD and DHS for continuing education). The course has been approved by the Registry of Continuing Education (RACE) for 18 CEUs since 2012 and consistently receives positive reviews from participants. Each year until 2014, CEEZAD supported 75 participants with reduced registration fees and the CFSPH supported participants in excess of 75. Course materials consist of online lessons and a printed book for rapid reference. The course is offered through the CFSPH website and learning management system.
Zoonoses: Protecting People and Their Pets: This course is related to CEEZAD’s zoonotic disease educational goals and to the One Health concept and CEEZAD funding was first provided for the development of this course in 2011. The course was developed by the CFSPH in 2012-2013. It has been offered in the fall of 2013, 2014 and 2015. The course announcement has been sent to more than 150 professional publications, associations, and state organizations for veterinary, public health and human medical sectors (e.g., the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, the American Public Health Association, the American Association of Family Physicians and World Veterinary Association). In addition, a press release for course availability was sent out in September 2015 to a broad range of veterinary, public health and human medical associations and state organizations. Participants have given the overall course a rating of greater than 8 out of 10. It is approved for 8.5 hours of RACE CE credits. Course materials consist of online lessons and a printed book for rapid reference. The course is offered through the CFSPH website and learning management system.
Preparedness for Animal Health Emergencies (4-hour course): The CFSPH has developed the web-based course and companion Resource Manual with funding from CEEZAD. The course addresses natural disasters and disease emergencies affecting all animal species including livestock, companion animals, service animals, working animals, and captive animal populations. The goal of this course is to provide resources to help animal health responders prepare for various animal health emergencies and to enhance their knowledge of response activities. The audience for this course includes animal health responders from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including veterinarians and veterinary technicians (private practice, state, and federal employees), animal response teams, extension, community/county emergency response teams, and traditional first responders (e.g., emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, public safety communications). The course could serve as one component of a larger training for animal response team members. Development of the course included modifications based on lessons learned from the spring 2015 avian influenza outbreak situation.
The course covers animal health emergencies, threats, community and personal preparedness, and response and business continuity and includes case studies to demonstrate response needs/the importance of preparedness and interaction with a variety of response personnel. The Resource Manual provided with the course complements the web-based modules and contains handouts, easy reference guides, and other resources for just-in-time review or guidance for responders during an event or during training opportunities/exercises.
The course will be advertised through various animal health and emergency management listservs and contacts, such as the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Programs (NASAAEP), as well as state animal health and emergency management agencies, and state veterinary medical associations. CEEZAD and other DHS Centers of Excellence will also be notified of the course delivery dates. The course will be submitted for RACE approval for four CE credits and offered through the CFSPH website and learning management system in Summer/Fall of 2016.
Animal Disease Emergencies (2-hour course): This course is currently begin developed and will address agricultural emergency response for situations involving infectious diseases of livestock (and poultry), such as foot-and-mouth disease or avian influenza. CFSPH will work with DHS to submit the course to the Responder Training Development Center to be included in the Approved Federal Sponsored Course Catalog.
The course is targeted primarily towards emergency response personnel with little to no animal health response experience with the goal of raising awareness of response measures necessary at the local, state, and national level. The audience for this course includes agricultural responders such as animal health responders (state and federal animal health, volunteer reserve veterinary corps, extension), traditional first responders (e.g., emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, public safety communications), and government officials (e.g., county). The course will also be valuable for livestock and poultry producers and affiliated industries because it raises awareness of disease threats, outlines response efforts, and encourages preventive measures.
See http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/education-and-training.php for more information on these courses