Percentage of disease plans that are current:

This measure monitors the percentage of disease plans that are considered current. To be considered current, a disease plan must be updated within the past 5 years. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Population Health (DPH) Office of Communicable Diseases (OCD) is the custodian of 84 disease plans. Our goal is to have more than 85% of our disease plans current. As of December 2023, 56 (67%) disease plans are current.

Percentage of response plans that are current:

This measure monitors the percentage of response plans considered current. For most plans this means they are reviewed and updated at least every 3 years. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Population Health (DPH) Office of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (EMSP) monitors and coordinates 25 response plans. Our goal is to have 85% of our response plans current. As of December 2023, 9 (36%) response plans are current.

Percentage of rules that are current: 

This measure monitors the percentage of rules that are considered current. To be considered current, a rule must be codified in the Utah Administrative Code. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Population Health (DPH), has 55 effective rules. Our goal is to have 100% of our rules current. As of December 2023, 55 (100%) rules are current.

National Comparison: This measure monitors state rules, disease plans and response plans and there is not a national comparison measure available. 

Percentage of disease plans that are current:

A disease plan must be updated within the past 5 years to be considered current. A new disease plan update review and approval process was implemented in 2022. The process includes a literature review and assessment of best practices by DHHS epidemiologists and subsequent change proposal to the Epidemiology Affiliate Group, Epidemiology and Informatics Executive Group, and Governance. This process collects local health authority input on the impact that proposed changes may have on Utah’s Public Health System and creates a mechanism for review and approval. The approval process allows a maximum of 24 disease plans to be updated each year. In 2020, we paused our routine disease plan updates to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 3 plans were updated in 2020, 16 in 2021, and 12 in 2022, which put us behind schedule. Nine plans have been updated as of December 2023. This lower count has been attributed to implementation of the new process and we expect to see marked improvements in 2024. Additionally, efforts are underway to assess barriers to disease plan approval and identify process improvements. However, the review and approval process has been beneficial to clarify state and local responsibilities and response expectations while fostering collaboration. 

Percentage of response plans that are current:

The EMSP is tasked with development of emergency response plans and coordination with other offices to support their plan development. Due to the impact of lessons learned from the COVID-19 response and the DHHS merger, many plans are currently out of date. Efforts to review and update all emergency response plans have been scheduled based on priority. Many plans are in various stages of development, review, and approval.

Percentage of rules that are current: 

Through authority from the Utah Legislature, programs within the DHHS, DPH manage the development of new rules and the revision and continuation of current rules. Rules are effective until repealed. This process is governed by the Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.