Recent outbreaks, the emergence of drug-resistant diseases and the potential threat of bioterrorism have pushed the need to re-examine isolation & quarantine (I&Q) preparedness. Modern conditions have left many responders, especially in rural and remote communities, without the knowledge and training they need for activating or coordinating aid for isolation and quarantine response.
Although certain aspects of I&Q are federally regulated, standard operating procedures, authorities, strategies, and statutes relating to I&Q and disease control methods vary from state to state. Without uniform standards across the response community, it is likely many response agencies lack a clear understanding regarding how and when to implement, manage, and demobilize I&Q measures.
The suite of Isolation and Quarantine for Rural Communities courses, four courses in all, aim to foster whole community involvement in the planning for incidents that require isolation and/or quarantine. Specifically, these courses provide small, rural, and remote communities with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively plan for and respond to incidents that require isolation and/or quarantine of their populations in a variety of low- and high-impact situations.
MGT 433 – Isolation and Quarantine for Rural Communities provides officials with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively plan for and respond to events requiring isolation and/or quarantine of their populations in a variety of low and high-impact situations. This course serves as the prerequisite introduction for the discipline-specific courses below.
MGT 431 – Rural Isolation & Quarantine Planning: Private Sector Readiness provides information for private sector businesses in small, rural and remote communities on methods to effectively plan for isolation and/or quarantine events which may impact their business operations, supply chain, customers and workforce.
MGT 432 – Isolation & Quarantine for Rural Public Safety Personnel prepares public safety personnel in small, rural, and remote communities for response to isolation and/or quarantine events where public safety plays a key role. The course explores authorities, strategies, statutes and tactical issues related to these specialized situations.
PER 308 – Rural Isolation and Quarantine for Public Health and Healthcare Professionals consists of customized training modules tailored for the public health and healthcare fields. As a critical support resource in isolation and quarantine events, participants will become familiar with policies, guidance and resources to assist officials in planning and response.
This set of courses are a few of the many DHS-certified courses available from the RDPC. If you would like to learn more about the RDPC, please visit www.ruraltraining.org. The RDPC help desk is also available through email at info@ruraltraining.org or call (877) 855-7372. This training is tuition-free for qualifying jurisdictions. A limited number of deliveries will be available.
