Information Collection

The Texas Department of State Health Services, through a contract with The Litaker Group, is currently undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of the health and medical response to the outbreak of the novel H1N1 virus that began in Texas in April of 2009. The purpose of this evaluation process is to identify what worked during the response as well as areas where improvement is needed for future disease outbreaks and to support future all hazard responses.

A variety of methods are being used to gather data from internal and external stakeholders. These methods include hot washes, interviews, surveys, and focus groups being conducted in Austin and across the state. Topics for discussion include antiviral allocation and distribution, vaccine allocation and distribution, epidemiology, public health laboratory, communication and non-pharmaceutical intervention. Feedback provided through these sessions will be
analyzed and will inform the development of an After Action Report.