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Idaho Bioterrorism Awareness and
Published in the December 2006 Idaho Board of Pharmacy Newsletter
The Idaho Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Program (IBAPP) is offering continuing education (CE) opportunities for pharmacists and all of the health care workforce of Idaho, as part of a groundbreaking, federally funded initiative to provide courses addressing response to man-made or natural disasters. The educational opportunities, designed especially for pharmacists, are tailored to the needs and concerns of busy professionals. Despite the term “bioterrorism” in the title, the first thing you should know is that it is not just about bioterrorism. The second is that all courses are free. And third, it is relevant to your practice. It is about being aware, being prepared, and the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge educational delivery modalities and experiences.
Idaho State University’s Institute of Rural Health has been awarded a multiyear grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to prepare Idaho’s health care workforce for emergency situations through CE opportunities. Because Idaho is predominantly rural, with professionals spread across large geographic areas serving often underserved and vulnerable populations, the delivery modalities focus on distance learning.
Virtual tabletop exercise and drill simulations
Live event Webcasting (interactive and non-interactive)
Virtual Grand Rounds
Webcasts (on demand)
Archived Webcasts
Online, interactive courses
Archived online seminars
All courses, Webcasts, and seminars provided online come with permission from some of the top research institutions in the country, including Yale University, Columbia University, University of Michigan, and The Johns Hopkins University. We also have collected valuable courses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Medscape.com, and others. Course topics include:
Emergency preparedness
Epidemiology: emerging and potential pandemics
Mental health needs in emergency events
Bioterrorism
Chemical emergencies and chemical terrorism
Terrorism
For example, pharmacists play a key and very important planning and medication dispensing role in pandemics. Therefore, to be prepared it is pertinent that pharmacists continue to review current literature and participate in educational opportunities, such as those offered through IBAPP. These courses provide appropriate knowledge and skills to enable you to respond efficiently and effectively in the event of an emergency. Below are samplings of IBAPP courses that may be of interest:
Emerging Infectious Diseases by The Johns Hopkins University
Treatment of Infectious Disease: Drugs and Drug Resistance by The Johns Hopkins University
Pandemic Influenza: Could History Repeat Itself? by the University of Michigan
Disaster Mental Health Intervention by The Johns Hopkins University
WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Sampling and Monitoring for Public Health Responders by Columbia University
Regardless of where you practice, you may become a valuable part of your community’s emergency response system especially when it comes to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and points of dispensing (PODs). The training curriculum and courses focus on the clinical and organizational competencies that health care professionals should possess. All classes align with the national response plan, preparedness goals, and target capabilities and measures. In most cases, the courses offer continuing medical education/CE credits. For more information, go to the IBAPP Web site at www.isu.edu/irh/IBAPP.
