Operational evaluation of high-throughput community-based mass prophylaxis using Just-in-time training. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Community-based mass prophylaxis is a core public health operational competency, but staffing needs may overwhelm the local trained health workforce. Just-in-time (JIT) training of emergency staff and computer modeling of workforce requirements represent two complementary approaches to address this logistical problem. Multnomah County, Oregon, conducted a high-throughput point of dispensing (POD) exercise to test JIT training and computer modeling to validate POD staffing estimates. The POD had 84% non-health-care worker staff and processed 500 patients per hour. Post-exercise modeling replicated observed staff utilization levels and queue formation, including development and amelioration of a large medical evaluation queue caused by lengthy processing times and understaffing in the first half-hour of the exercise. The exercise confirmed the feasibility of using JIT training for high-throughput antibiotic dispensing clinics staffed largely by nonmedical professionals. Patient processing times varied over the course of the exercise, with important implications for both staff reallocation and future POD modeling efforts. Overall underutilization of staff revealed the opportunity for greater efficiencies and even higher future throughputs.

publication date

  • September 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Allied Health Personnel
  • Community Health Services
  • Education
  • Emergency Medical Services

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC1936954

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 35148861102

PubMed ID

  • 17877305

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 122

issue

  • 5