National Biodefense Science Board Public Meeting

The next public meeting of the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) will take place on Thursday, September 29.

Join NBSB members, distinguished guests, federal leaders, and subject matter experts exploring topics such as how best to support rural and underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, use of virtual healthcare during disasters, and health system operational data considerations during a health emergency. For additional details and meeting agenda topics, please see the NBSB Public Meeting page. An agenda for the meeting is posted on the website.

Highlighted agenda items include:

• Readiness and Resilience Working Group Readout
• Countermeasures and Operational Research Working Group Readout
• Disaster and Public Health Emergency Training Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities for the Health Workforce in the United States
• Open Discussion – Additional Key Biodefense Lessons from COVID-19

Advanced registration is required. To register for the meeting and for additional information, visit the NBSB Public Meeting page.

Register to Address the NBSB

The NBSB are inviting people with expertise or experience related to the collection, analysis, and operational use of health data to improve access to and resilience of virtual health care to address the Board and/or experience and expertise addressing rural and underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are particularly interested in hearing stakeholder input related to the following topics:

Operational Health Data for Disaster Response

• What are your concerns about the confidentiality of your health data or how it might be used?
• What are your concerns with the current HHS data reporting requirements for health systems, including the format, timing, and extent of data that must be submitted?
• Should data reporting requirements, or modified requirements, be continued after the COVID-19 reporting stops?
• What are the current training needs for healthcare staff to meet the requirements for collection and reporting of health data?
• What is the level of effort (i.e. staffing and person-time) required to satisfy all of the current health system reporting requirements?
• If your health care or public health organization has agreements in place to share information among regional partners, do you have processes in place to improve data sharing during a disaster? Has data sharing during disasters led to an improved disaster response?
• If your health care or public health organization has agreements in place to share information among regional partners, do you have any special measures in place to ensure that rural and underserved communities are represented?

Virtual Healthcare for Disaster Response

• What could be done to improve the reliability and availability of internet access and the appropriate computers or software? If available, is the use of telephone or radio an acceptable option for medical care during a disaster?
• What are your concerns about the continuity of care, including the availability of your own medical history and proper recording of virtual care?
• Are there adequate resources in place to ensure that you receive the medications you need during a disaster?
• Would you be willing to have a “family visit” for healthcare, where multiple people are treated on the same virtual visit?

Update: NBSB currently has as many public speakers as can accommodated in the time available, so please send written comments on related topics to NBSB@hhs.gov, which will be shared with the board members ahead of the meeting. Additional meeting materials will be made available to the public on the NBSB Public Meeting page.