CNMI CHCC ELC PROGRAM - The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) manages the sole hospital in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMl), providing ancillary services such as pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and an operating dialysis unit certified by Medicare. It also manages behavioral health services, public health services, and the CNMI Health and Vital Statistics Office. The CHCC's Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity's (ELC) has benefited from resources since 2012 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Program since 2012. The CDC ELC Program will allow the CHCC to improve laboratory capacity, boost epidemiologic capability, strengthen information technology infrastructure, and improve preventative measures while limiting its impact on NHPI communities in the CNMI. The CHCC ELC Program provides external funding for communicable disease, epidemiological, and public health laboratory capacity. Project A focuses on cross-cutting epidemiology and laboratory capacity, while Project B focuses on leadership, management, and administrative. The CNMI has a robust and structured Epidemiology Surveillance System in place for All Hazards' events, consisting of an Epidemiologist, ELC Project Director, ELC Project Administrator, Administrative Assistant . However, current funding does not meet the capacity of personnel and salaries needed to maintain and sustain the current capacity and meet expected ELC program growth. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) faces challenges in maintaining its health information systems (HIS) (Project C) due to resource limitations. Despite these, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) is working to enhance HIS capabilities, integrating Tinian Health Center and Rota Health Center into the CHCC network. However, persistent barriers hinder progress towards healthcare transformation, such as outdated platforms and limited functionalities. CHCC is procuring a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system with federal support to elevate HIS capabilities over a two-year transition period. Project D aims to enhance staff technical competencies for efficient AMD activities. Project F focuses on the ELC program's central point of preparing for potential rising infectious diseases by strategizing readiness, reaction, recovery, and moderation. Collaboration with various entities, including the CDC, Commonwealth Healthcare Organization Authority, Open Wellbeing, Private Wellbeing Clinics, and research facilities, will be key to achieving these objectives. CHCC will follow successful response coordination strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring all vital partners are included in moderating potential episodes. Project G focuses on Enteric, Foodborne, Waterborne, and Zoonotic Disease: Surveillance, Detection, Response, Reporting, and Prevention. The EHDP, reorganized in 2020, works in partnership with the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Program to investigate reported cases of enteric, foodborne, waterborne, and zoonotic diseases as part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island's National Notifiable Diseases (NNDs). Project K The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is grappling with vector-borne diseases, with outbreaks on neighboring islands and potential introduction through infected travelers. The Environmental Health and Disease Prevention (EHDP) program, a part of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, works to protect public health by promoting clean environments. The program works with the CHCC Laboratory and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program to detect and respond to suspected cases. The EHDP plans to expand its surveillance process to Tinian and Rota, aiming to identify current mosquito vectors and address personnel challenges.
