Challenges in Managing Sustaining and Assessing Closed Point of Dispensing Sites Findings from a Qualitative Study

The authors interviewed 16 disaster planners about closed point of dispensing (POD) management practices, such as communication with POD sites, training for staff, and helping with exercises. Most closed PODs were in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and first responder sites. Respondents reported communication with health department officials once a site was determined a closed POD, but regularity differed. The importance of regular exercises was emphasized, as was understanding challenges associated with assessing readiness to deploy and managing a variety of sites. The practices explored in the article can improve jurisdictions’ ability to deploy medical countermeasures in the future.