[Federal Register: September 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 187)]
[Notices]               
[Page 60688]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se02-76]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30DAY-47-02]

 
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a 
list of information collection requests under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call 
the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 498-1210. Send written 
comments to CDC, Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, New 
Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Hospital Bioterrorism Needs Assessment--New--
National Center for Infectious Disease (NCID), Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC). In October-November 2001, following the 
reports of anthrax cases, the infection control community indicated to 
the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion that there was a need for 
more bioterrorism-related information. A needs assessment was created 
and pilot tested in eight hospitals to assist DHQP in providing 
guidance to hospitals for preparedness and response. The needs 
assessment will gather information that will help the Division and 
other areas of CDC in evaluating CDC strategies for identifying and 
developing the materials and communication mechanisms that hospitals 
need most to adequately prepare for and respond to possible 
bioterrorism events in the future. The Division of Healthcare Quality 
Promotion has a more than 30-year history of being seen as a reliable 
source of information to the infection control community. Our objective 
is to determine the needs of hospitals so they are adequately prepared 
to recognize and treat bioterrorism-related diseases and prevent 
further transmission of disease. This will ultimately enable them to do 
their jobs better, identify bioterrorism events more quickly, and 
prevent morbidity and mortality.
    The needs assessment will assess the bioterrorism planning and 
preparedness, resources and communication, impact of anthrax events, 
surveillance for bioterrorism-related diseases, education and training, 
and information needs in hospitals. The data from responding hospitals 
will be used to develop improved methods of communication to healthcare 
providers and facilities, establish the best way for CDC to disseminate 
materials, assure disaster plans are in place, and determine what 
information from CDC is of greatest need to healthcare facilities.
    The data collection will use web-based technology to gather 
information in a systematic fashion to better assist hospitals. These 
topics were chosen for the needs assessment by staff members of the 
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, who provided expertise to 
healthcare facilities after the September 11th attacks. The estimated 
annualized burden is 1,000 hours.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Average
                                    Number of    Number of     burden/
              Title                respondents   responses/    response
                                                 respondent   (in hrs.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bioterrorism needs assessment for        4,000            1        15/60
 healthcare facilities...........
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    Dated: September 19, 2002.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-24402 Filed 9-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P