It is exceedingly frustrating and unfair to Maine residents that several Maine media organizations continue to portray the staffing of key positions at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention as the sole determinant of the state’s ability to handle an outbreak of disease or a public health emergency.
Most recently, Dr. Peter Millard was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News and was quoted as saying Maine’s level of preparedness is “terrible.” His primary reason was this: “We have no state epidemiologist.” The question that must be asked of Millard is, since the position became vacant, has the public health system in Maine failed to respond effectively?
The answer is no.
As is the case in any organization when a key vacancy exists, the work continues to get done. The responsibilities of the state epidemiologist have been fulfilled since the day the vacancy occurred. Clearly, we recognize the importance of hiring a state epidemiologist, and we are currently scheduling interviews.
Millard’s unfounded comments about Maine’s preparedness, however, are an insult to the many people who work each and every day at the Maine CDC and the thousands of people who work with us to ensure Maine is as prepared as it possibly can be for a disease outbreak, epidemic or any other public health emergency.
Since joining the Maine CDC, I have spent a great deal of time meeting with staff and learning about the depth and breadth of the work it does. I was keenly aware of the role Maine CDC plays in ensuring public health and safety, but at the same time I have learned more about how Maine is structured to respond to a public health emergency.
A successful response relies upon Mane CDC’s planning and leadership skills, as well as the performance of many partners across the state. These partners include local health care providers, social service agencies, state and local emergency management agencies, more than 600 designated local health officers in the municipalities and many others.
Public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) staff at the Maine CDC leads the statewide effort. A network has been built across the state to leverage local and regional community resources to respond quickly and effectively. Community preparedness, recovery, mass care, the dispensing of medical countermeasures, medical material management and assessment, medical and surgical intervention, testing through our public health laboratory, and surveillance and epidemiological investigation are a few of the areas the PHEP team plans for and oversees.
Continued assessment and improvement of public health preparedness are critical. Just last year, our staff was a key player in the Vigilant Guard exercise that created multiple simultaneous emergencies in real time. Agencies across the state and many local partners participated. This exercise allowed many to put plans into action and learn from the results.
When it comes to real-life responses, Maine has excelled over the years. During the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, the mobilization of statewide vaccination clinics was swift and effective. The Ebola policies that were crafted and implemented offered the public an additional layer of protection. On a smaller yet important scale, a recent onset of illness at a Portland school quickly was addressed by Maine’s epidemiologists and health inspectors. At least one media outlet praised the Maine CDC for its swift action.
These positive outcomes have been achieved within existing staffing levels, and the media would be hard-pressed to challenge the results. As I continue to analyze Maine’s public health efforts and opportunities for reorganization, I do so with the knowledge and respect of the good work of Maine CDC and its partners. Staffing decisions and reorganization strategies will be based on established goals that support fiscal accountability and efficiency, ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and produce positive, measurable public health outcomes for the citizens of Maine.
I agree with Millard’s assertion that “public hysteria and paranoia are not the answer.” Mainers should take comfort in the work that continues each day to ensure our state is as prepared as possible for a public health emergency. I assure you that if called upon, Maine’s epidemiology staff, health inspectors, environmental lab staff and emergency preparedness team will respond quickly and effectively.
Our workforce is skilled and capable, the critical partnerships that have been built across the state get stronger each and every day and the commitment to emergency preparedness is consistent and strong.
Kenneth Albert is director and chief operating officer of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.