CAHAN San Diego Keeps Local Healthcare Providers Informed on Key Public Health Issues

Physicians take pride in being knowledgeable of the latest health information, yet how do you know for sure if it’s accurate and up-to-date? To ensure that it is, please consider enrolling in the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) San Diego to receive the latest health alerts issued by County Public Health Services and the State.

CAHAN is the official public health emergency alerting system for San Diego County and California. Alert topics include communicable diseases, requests for heightened surveillance, recommendations on disease identification, prevention, infection control, specimen submission, and laboratory testing. Past alerts have also included public health emergency information on the earthquake/radiation issues/tsunami in Japan, H1N1 activities, and local firestorms. CAHAN includes a secure, web-based portal that provides information on such topics as disease reporting, communicable diseases, physicians’ bulletins, archived alerts, bioterrorism resources, and emergency preparedness.

Another important example of the usefulness of CAHAN would be in the event of an earthquake or other public health emergency. Information from a CAHAN San Diego alert can mean you and your staff are better prepared to screen, triage, and treat the potentially numerous patients (including “worried well”) that begin presenting at your healthcare facility. CAHAN updates you on a regular basis as recommendations change and the situation unfolds.

San Diego County physicians are encouraged to complete the CAHAN San Diego online registration form. There is no cost to enroll. Please go to www.cahansandiego.com and select the “Subscribe to CAHAN San Diego” link. For questions, please contact Bruce Even at bruce.even@sdcounty.ca.gov or (619) 285-6588.