Public Health Practices

In response to Cities Readiness Initiative requirements, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE), in conjunction with Kansas City metro partners, developed an online screening and voucher system for Points of Dispensing (PODs). The system enables one client to move through a POD in 35 seconds, reduces responder time and effort, and engages the public more fully in emergency preparedness.

Points of dispensing (PODs) sites located in schools or community buildings are a standard part of preparing to provide medication or vaccine to the public during an infectious disease outbreak or bioterrorist attack. Push methods – ways to get antibiotics or other forms of treatments to people's residences – are less common, yet may offer significant benefits in terms of social distancing, traffic control, and personal comfort during an emergency.

The Virginia Department of Health created a system that enables the state to track licensure verification, communication with volunteers, and deployment during an emergency.

The Closed Dispensing Site Workbook is designed to help community organizations become closed dispensing sites to administer medication to their staff and/or clients during an emergency. The workbook is an alternative to traditional prophylaxis dispensing site and is intended to disburse preventive medication to an entire population within 48 hours.

The Push Partner Registry (PPR) is a five-county public health partnership with community-based organizations to dispense medications to at-risk populations during an emergency. The intent of the registry is to create a comprehensive database of regional private partners and community-based organizations that serve at-risk populations and are willing to serve as a private point-of-dispensing (POD) site during an emergency.