Assessment of MCM Response Capabilities to an Anthrax Attack and Impact on Recovery.

摘要

This summary presentation reviews the approach, findings and recommendations of the 'Biological Attack Response and Recovery: End-to-End Medical Countermeasure Distribution and Dispensing Processes' study. The analysis examines current medical countermeasure (MCM) response capabilities when faced with a large scale biological attack (aerosolized anthrax) and identifies gaps in the MCM distribution and dispensing process. The study recommends cost-effective ways to alter the MCM process and supporting activities to achieve greater efficiency and flexibility and to enable recovery. The study of over 100 process gaps coupled with end to end system analysis revealed that population compliance is one of the most important factors in reaching recovery, an area that is often ignored in response analysis. Twelve overarching deficiency themes were developed and over twenty five possible corrective or preventive actions were identified and assessed against impact on lives saved and expected cost to implement. Nine priority recommendations that have the greatest impact on recovery within resource constraints emerged from this analysis.