Point of Dispensing Online Design Tool for Public Information and Communication

The Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) and Division of State and Local Readiness (DSLR) routinely provides training and technical assistance to state and local project areas using a facilitated, in-person workshops. These include the Public Information and Communication (PIC) course as well as the Mass Antibiotic Dispensing (MAD) and Prep courses.

Part of this training includes having student-attendees design the point of dispensing (POD) layout for POD operations overall and PIC operations in particular (i.e., signage, staff, equipment). This is accomplished using large laminated charts of a simulated POD and indicating the location of tools around and throughout the POD on the diagram.

Such realistic simulations of POD duties are crucial to enable state and local staff better determine areas for improvement. Although this training provides significant value to staff in project areas, it remains difficult to later repeat the exercise activity or share it within the jurisdiction without the charts.

Therefore, the need exists to provide to communications professionals involved in Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) POD planning additional tools to enhance and maintain their skills following the training, in a format they can utilize on their own, outside of a formal training setting.

The DSLR PIC Team already has in place an interactive, online role-playing scenario that enables players to act within a decision-making environment during a public health emergency. This existing tool is the Medical Countermeasure Response Trainer (MCRT).

Of need at this time is a new module within MCRT, an interactive, online, graphic-based platform that will enable PIC planners to virtually build, review, and test various layouts for a POD and to use the results of the testing to enhance their plans.