Challenge: To create a planning framework for building resilience with the capability for an effective response of community health clinics and primary care centers in event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Solution: Purdue HealthcareTAP staff provided facilitation and guidance in development of a Business Continuity Management Plan Toolkit to ensure financial integrity and continuity of healthcare services to healthcare facilities during an emergency. The facilitated planning process and Toolkit resources address all phases of emergency planning, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, with specific emphasis on the recovery phase. A Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment is completed as part of the process.

Challenge: In 2007, no counties in Indiana had completed the CDC, National Public Health Performance Standards, Local Public Health System Assessment, to examine delivery of essential public health and healthcare services in a county or healthcare service area.

Solution: A multi-disciplinary Purdue team has implemented the Local Public Health System Assessment in 41 counties since 2007. Over 1,000 individuals representing public health and healthcare organizations have participated in an assessment in Indiana. Each county receives a 32-page report with detailed results of how public health services are being delivered in the county. Results are prioritized for community-based health improvement planning.

Challenge: Few counties in Indiana conduct regular, comprehensive community health assessments and develop evidence-based community health improvement plans for the populations they serve.

Solution: Purdue HealthcareTAP staff, with expertise in population health and quality improvement, conduct Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training, that is specifically focused on public and population health. Training teams consist of broad-based public health and healthcare system partners with a common vision for improving the health of their population. The curriculum meets ASQ standards for training. Individual certification is available to each participant. Upon completion of the training, a single one-half day review is provided by the Purdue team and a written Certification Exam Is administered. Successfully completing the Exam demonstrates a minimum level of competency in QI concepts and use of QI tools at this level. The outcome of training for each team is a project charter and implementation of a community health improvement plan. If requested, plans may be focused on a more specific health behavior or outcome.