Even where some type of electronic communications capacity exists, a huge problem remains. The capacity is useless unless people are trained to work with it effectively. Training in the use of on-line data and services is essential. The skills and competencies we will need to apply 21st century technology to public health are sorely lacking. Moreover, the experience and skill to deal with complex infectious disease problems is widely variable across the country.
Additional training is needed to improve local public health surveillance and response.
The knowledge gap is particularly alarming with respect to biological and chemical terrorism. Few local public health practitioners are familiar with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of the health effects from agents of biological warfare. We need quick access to authoritative guidelines for implementing emergency measures, as well as an ability to communicate instantaneously and securely with other government agencies that would respond to an instance of terrorism. We also need to train our own personnel. We are particularly concerned about continued and adequate funding for the component that will help local health departments develop the technology and training that they need to deal with bioterrorism, as well as any other public health crisis.