Health Security
Spring 2008
Today health and global security are inextricably intertwined. The rapid transnational spread of new and emerging infectious diseases and their potential use as terrorist agents grab headlines, while in many parts of the world, economic, political, and social development is held back be-cause of poor health and poor health care. At the same time, health care represents an area of shared human values through which constructive engagement neutral to religion, culture, and politics is possible. RAND's Center for Domestic and International Health Security (CDIHS) conducts research to analyze, model, measure, and develop policy options for government and private-sector entities in the United States and around the world that address critical health secu-rity and public health issues. The RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research also con-ducts research to address health security and other policy issues relevant to the U.S. military. Current projects on health security topics are briefly described below.
Profiles of Current Research
Highlights of Recent Studies
Promoting Accountability in Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Commonly used approaches for measuring emergency preparedness are insufficient; exercise-based assessments that are "embedded" in routine activities should be part of a new approach.
How Schools Responded to Student Mental Health Needs Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
School experiences with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita underscore the need for better planning and training to respond to the mental health dimension of natural disasters.
Infectious Disease and National Security: Strategic Information Needs
The United States needs a new centralized system for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information about infectious diseases.
Emergency Preparedness Is Stimulating Changes in Public Health Practice
New partnerships, changes in the workforce, new technologies, and evolving organizational structures are among the changes in public health practice stimulated by public health emergency preparedness.
Quality Improvement Methods Can Be Used to Improve Public Health Emergency Preparedness
An examination of health departments found that, although no sites had comprehensive, fully functioning quality improvement (QI) processes for public health emergency preparedness, many sites had one or more components necessary for QI.
Bioterrorism Preparedness Training and Assessment Exercises for Local Public Health Agencies
RAND developed a manual of tabletop exercises that local public health agencies can customize and use to train public health workers in how to detect and respond to a bioterrorism event and assess preparedness over time.
Related Web Sites
RAND Center for Domestic and International Health Security
http://www.rand.org/health/centers/healthsecurity/
Public Health Preparedness Database
RAND Gulf States Policy Institute
Working with Congress
RAND's Washington Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) furthers RAND's mission to provide objective analysis and effective solutions by disseminating research results to Congress and federal agencies. The OCR publishes a monthly electronic newsletter featuring current work on health policy. Contact: Shirley Ruhe (Shirley_Ruhe@rand.org) or Kristy Anderson (kristy@rand.org).
The RAND Health Congressional Newsletter
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