Ebola Response Team, Rockland County Department of Health (RCDH)

Pictured:

• Anil K. Vaidian, MD, MPH, Director of TB & Communicable Disease Program, Junie C. Delizo, Director of Emergency Preparedness, Elizabeth Benjamin, Assistant Director of Emergency Preparedness and E. Oscar Alleyne DrPH, MPH, Director of Epidemiology & Public Health Planning

When the NYSDOH Commissioner of Health ordered mandatory Ebola preparedness in October 2014, the Rockland County Department of Health was ready and quickly assembled an Ebola Response Team. The Team was a collaborative effort of the Divisions of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Emergency Preparedness, which served to coordinate communications with the public; conduct multiple department-wide in-service trainings on Ebola; provide fit-testing of N-95 respirators for staff most likely to have patient contact; prepare the response protocol for clinic staff; update the department's Isolation and Quarantine Protocol, and apprise the County Attorney's Office. They also prepared a list for the purchase of all necessary equipment and supplies needed for response. The Team is currently developing a training video and training protocol on Ebola Response and is planning a full-scale exercise for 2015. Public health is about teamwork for the greatest good. The RCDH Ebola Response Team demonstrates how Public Health Works!