[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57297-57298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21469]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the proposed information 
collection project: ``AHRQ-HRSA Chemical, Biological, Radiological, 
Nuclear and Explosive (All Hazards) Preparedness Questionnaire for 
Healthcare Facilities for 2004 (CBRNE)''. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ is 
submitting to OMB a request for Emergency Review.
    This emergency review is requested because collection of this 
information is urgently needed. The information that will be generated 
by this survey is critical to the preparedness of the nation with 
respect to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive 
hazards.
    It is crucial for national security that we obtain a baseline 
assessment of the level of preparedness of our hospitals and health 
care facilities in order to plan Government program priorities, and to 
offer current and timely information to the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Congress, and to the President in order to inform 
policy decisions relevant to emergency preparedness.
    There has been extensive interest by Federal, State, and Local 
government offices in obtaining this information and frequent requests 
from Congress, the Congressional Research Service, Office of Management 
and Budget, Government Accounting Office, and Department of Homeland 
Security in order to monitor hospital(s) all hazards preparedness 
program, and the current level of preparedness in the nation, in order 
to plan for future all hazards preparedness program(s) and 
policymaking.

DATES: AHRQ is requesting that OMB provide a seven-day review for 
public comment period on these requirements.

ADDRESSES: Written comments for the proposed information collection 
should be submitted to the OMB Desk Officer at the following address: 
John Kraemer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB: New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

    ``Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (All 
Hazards) Preparedness Questionnaire for Healthcare Facilities for 2004 
(CBRNE)''
    The Preparedness Questionnaire is an inventory of all U.S. 
hospitals, designed to measure national levels of preparedness for a 
chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) 
event. One point of contact will be designated in each hospital to 
provide information on a range of topics that have been deemed 
essential by a panel of nationally-recognized experts on issues related 
to hospital preparedness for a CBRNE, i.e., an all-hazards event. These 
topics include facility planning and administration; training and 
education; communication and notification; patient capacity; staffing 
and support; isolation and decontamination; supplies, pharmaceuticals 
and laboratory support; and surveillance.
    The inventory, which will be administered in 2004 and again in 
2005, will provide national, state, and regional levels of preparedness 
by type of hospital, as well as estimates of bed capacity and emergency 
increase (surge) capacity. This information will establish a baseline 
measure of preparedness and readiness for a CBRNE event in hospitals, 
and will be used to assess the current national level of preparedness.
    It will also be useful for national planning, program planning, 
setting priority areas in addressing current and future needs, as well 
as ensuring that scarce resources are being used in a way that achieves 
the most impact in preparedness. Future studies will be conducted to 
assess advances in preparedness levels.

[[Page 57298]]

Data Confidentiality Provisions

    The data will be collected by an independent consulting firm under 
terms of its contract. The identifiable information about institutions 
will be kept confidential in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 299c-3(c). AHRQ 
and HRSA will revieve only state-level summary data, and not individual 
hospital responses.

Method of Collection

    The 2004 preparedness questionnaire will be administered 
electronically to each hospital via electronic mail. The estimated 
annual burden is as follows:

                   Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Estimated
                                                  burden/    Total hours
     Number of  questionnaire  recipients        respondent    of burden
                                                 (minutes)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6000..........................................           60         6000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimate burden is based on the completion of a paper version 
of the questionnaire by a pilot hospital. The more efficient data 
collection effort enabled by the electronic format has been taken into 
account in this estimate. The annualized cost to all potential 
respondents is estimated at $209,040 Total ($34.84/hr [average staff 
time] x 1 hr. 6000 respondents). Percentage of capital costs, operating 
costs or maintenance costs are negligible. We propose a census 
information collection approach as appropriate data on which to develop 
a stratified, purposive sample is unavailable. Future studies will 
utilize statistical methods based on our baseline data to develop a 
sampling scheme.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above cited Paperwork Reduction Act 
legislation, comments on the AHRQ's and HRSA's information collection 
are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of functions of AHRQ and HRSA, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and costs) of the 
proposed collection of information (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will summarized and 
included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed information 
collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 17, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-21469 Filed 9-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M