[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24440-24441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09762]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-14-14QJ]


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 404-639-7570 
and send comments to LeRoy, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 
30333 or send an email to [email protected].
    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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Evaluation of Hospital Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies 
and Mass Causality Events Project--New--National Center for Injury 
Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Hospital preparedness for responding to public health emergencies 
including mass casualty incidents and epidemics have become a major 
national challenge. Following the World Trade Center attack of 
September 11, Hurricane Katrina of 2005, and the 2011 Alabama 
tornadoes, there is continued and heightened interest of using surveys 
to assess hospital readiness for various disasters and mass casualty 
incidents. Current patterns in terrorist activity increase the 
potential for civilian casualties from explosions. Explosions, 
particularly in confined spaces, can inflict severe multisystem 
injuries on numerous patients and produce unique challenges to health 
care providers and the systems that support them. The U.S. healthcare 
system and its civilian healthcare providers have minimal experience in 
treating patients with explosion-related injuries and deficiencies in 
response capability could result in increased morbidity and mortality 
and increased stress and fear in the community. Additionally, the surge 
of patients after an explosion typically occurs within minutes of the 
event and can quickly overwhelm nearby hospital resources. This 
potential for many casualties and an immediate surge of patients may 
stress and limit the ability of EMS systems, hospitals, and other 
health care facilities to care for critically injured victims.
    CDC requests a 6-month Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval to collect readiness and preparedness data. The purpose of 
this project will be to (1) develop and pilot an interview tool to 
assess hospital readiness for a rapid surge of large numbers of 
casualties; (2) develop minimum standards into the assessment tool to 
enable a review or an evaluation of hospital readiness and (3) develop 
strategies for dissemination and implementation of the interview tool.
    A national sample of randomly selected hospitals will be selected 
for participation. Four hundred Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from 
sampled hospitals will be mailed an introductory letter, contacted by 
telephone a few days later and asked if the hospital's emergency 
preparedness coordinator/manager can complete the survey. The time to 
read and respond to the introductory letter is expected to take 17 
minutes. The emergency preparedness coordinator/manager will complete 
the main survey online using the survey Web site with a goal of 320 
completed surveys. CDC estimated the total time required to complete 
the survey as two hours, including reading the instructions. The survey 
covers hospital preparedness efforts across departments, number of 
staff, participation in training and exercises, agreements with other 
responders, and hospital characteristics.
    After data are gathered from the survey, responses will be 
compiled, analyzed and summarized. The results will be used to develop 
an implementation manual, training

[[Page 24441]]

materials and dissemination plan for dissemination. A final study 
report will also be created.
    There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
      Type of respondents           Form name        Number of     responses per   per response    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       (in hrs)        (in hrs)
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CEO...........................  Screen..........             400               1           17/60             113
Emergency Preparedness          320.............               1               2             640
 Coordinator/Manager Survey.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             753
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-09762 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P