[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 66 (Friday, April 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16397-16398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8224]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-37]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Bioterrorism Needs Assessment For Hospitals--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. There are no 
costs to the respondents. The table below shows the estimated annual 
burden in hours to complete the needs assessment.

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                                                                                      Average
                                                      No. of          No. of          burden/      Total burden
                      Title                         respondents     responses/     response (in      (in hrs.)
                                                                    respondent         hrs.)
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Bioterrorism needs assessment for heathcare                4,000               1           15/60           1,000
 facilities.....................................
      Total.....................................                                                           1,000
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[[Page 16398]]

    Dated: March 26, 2002.
Nancy Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-8224 Filed 4-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P