Nursing Homes in Public Health Emergencies special needs and potential roles

Description: The potential role and question of preparedness on the part of nursing homes has emerged in local and national preparedness discussions. This report presents the findings of a series of focus groups conducted with nursing home staff in five States -- North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Utah -- and Southern California. The purpose of the focus groups was to gauge the level of disaster preparedness and assess the special needs and potential role of nursing homes in the event of bioterrorism or other public health emergencies.