CDC Cities Readiness Initiative: Medicine Dispensing for Businesses

During the past two years, ORC has been working with county health departments in California to encourage business participation in the CDC Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI). This is a federally funded program to prepare major U.S cities to effectively respond to a large scale public health emergency within a short time frame. There has been increased interest generated in this program due to the recent swine flu outbreak. Since we have found that the county health departments are offering their local businesses different roles and opportunities in their implementation of the program, ORC WOSH/OSH Group members with facilities in the 72 metropolitan areas covered by the CRI should contact their local health departments to inquire about the program, and becoming a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD).

An informational video detailing An Introduction to Becoming a Closed Point of Dispensing can be viewed below and is posted on the orc-sac.com website

Information regarding CRI and the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) can be found at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/cri

Some counties, such as Sacramento, have adopted a Push Partner Program model that involves employers dispensing medications from the SNS to employees and their families. The focus to date in Sacramento has been on dispensing antibacterial medications to respond to a large scale bioterrorist attack, with no medical supervision required. There is interest in broadening the application to include antivirals to respond to a pandemic, and those discussions are ongoing. The medications are provided at no cost, and participating businesses are priority recipients.

A video describing the Sacramento Push Partners Program is available on the ORC website

ORC has developed a relationship with a network of program coordinators throughout California and at the CDC in Atlanta. If you have questions about CRI or being a Closed Point of Dispensing (POD), contact Judi Freyman or the ORC Worldwide Sacramento office at 916-626-6820, and we will make every effort to provide you with the appropriate information.