Responsibilities of the Department of Health
The role of public health in an emergency is seen as an extension of its mission "to preserve, protect and promote the health of all Anne Arundel County residents". Depending upon the event, the Department of Health may serve in the lead position, in a collaborative role, or in a secondary / support role.
Responsibilities include multiple bureaus within the Department of Health. Most of these functions, the DOH does on a daily basis. During emergencies, however, these functions are executed on a larger scale with more urgency. These include:
- Conducting outbreak investigations
- Conducting disease surveillance
- Containing the spread of disease
- Dispensing medications and vaccinations to the public
- Providing nursing support at emergency shelters
- Protecting the environment
- Providing public communication
- Offering mental health support
