Acknowledgements

The author extends deep appreciation and gratitude to the participants of this study, without whose interest, time and assistance this report would not have been possible. Five hospital chief executive officers, their medical and nursing staff and managerial personnel, and representatives from each hospital’s community, including elected officials and emergency responders, provided candid and critical insights that helped frame key areas of concern regarding rural hospital preparedness.

The author also gratefully acknowledges the experts who served as reviewers for this report. Their critical assessments contributed to the report’s quality and its potential to impact preparedness efforts in the hospital and clinical communities. These experts are as follows:

James D. Bentley, Ph.D., American Hospital Association
Teresa Brown, MSW, MPH, Health Resources and Services Administration
Paul A. Castillo, M.D., MPH, Chemical/Bioterrorism Preparedness Consultant
Frank E. Ferrante, Johns Hopkins University
Roger L. Harrell, MHA, Dorchester County Health Department, MD
Linda O’Brien, RN, BSN, CIC, Doctor’s Hospital, MD
Cheryl Peterson, RN, MSN, American Nurses Association
Richard A. Raymond, MD, Nebraska Health and Human Services System
Mark S. Smith, MD, Washington Hospital Center, DC
Donald F. Thompson, MD, MPH&TM, Col, US Northern Command

Many thanks to Patrick Sullivan, Research Intern at the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security for his tireless support of all phases of this project. Thanks also to Neil Vibhakar, Research Intern at the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security for his assistance and support in scheduling and coordinating meetings at participating hospitals, and to Ms. Colleen Laughlin, Research Assistant at the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security, for arranging travel to the hospital sites.

Finally, the author commends the Center for Technology and National Security Policy of the National Defense University for commissioning this study and its concern for the bioterrorism preparedness efforts of rural hospitals and their role in homeland security.

Elin A. Gursky, Sc.D.
Senior Fellow for Biodefense and Public Health
The ANSER Institute for Homeland Security