Bridging the Expertise Gap: Developing and Utilizing a Radiological Advisory Committee for New York City.

Abstract

From the Field is a semi-regular column that explores what it means to be a local health professional on the front lines of an emergency. Typically, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) members share their stories of preparing for and responding to disasters, epidemics, and other major health issues. This month's column features a submission from the New York City health department that describes their experience in setting up a radiological advisory committee. Through exploring the analysis of the challenges faced and the solutions developed, readers can learn how these public health champions keep their communities safe even in extreme situations. Readers may submit topics of interest to the column's editor, Meghan McGinty, PhD, MPH, MBA, at mmcginty@naccho.org . A significant radiological emergency response in New York City would require scientific expertise beyond the routine capability of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and its partner agencies. Health physicists (radiological safety specialists) are chronically in short supply in the United States, which translates into a limited supply available to local health departments facing a radiological crisis. These professionals support medicine, industry, and the military in routine, nonemergency situations. In order to prearrange the availability of this expertise, a radiological advisory committee (RAC) was formed. The committee engages leading experts in the fields of radiation medicine and environmental radiation science in anticipation of the technical questions that arise from the clinical aspects of internalized radioactivity and the mitigation of the urban environment following a terrorist attack using radioactive materials. The creation of the RAC and its application in a nonemergency public policy forum is described, as are the problems foreseen in operationalizing the RAC during an emergency. Some conclusions are drawn about the effort and cost of maintaining the RAC and the benefits obtained by maintaining it. This information may be useful for other jurisdictions seeking to form a similar expert committee.