American Samoa § 13.0230 - Relationships between the department and federal agencies, ASG agencies, public and private sector partners and volunteers.

§ 13.0230. Relationships between the department and federal agencies, ASG agencies, public and private sector partners and volunteers.

(a) The director, or his designee, may seek to establish working relationships with federal agencies, ASG agencies, public and private sector partners and volunteers to aid and assist in the provision of essential public health services and functions. (b) The director may form an agreement with any federal agencies, ASG agencies, public and private sector partners and volunteers to coordinate the provision of essential public health services and functions. Among other purposes, these agreements may work to: (1) Develop, test, or demonstrate solutions for specific public health needs; (2) Conduct public health needs assessments and studies related to public health or health care issues concerning individuals located within the Territory; (3) Provide for data sharing; (4) Provide for collaborative development of public health plans; (5) Encourage and support any other activity that will assist the Department to improve or maintain the public’s health; (6) Dissemination of information and training regarding the appropriate use of clinical preventive practice guidelines; (7) Provision of information regarding the services and resources available related to patient management or medical care practice; (8) Development of medical care and patient services related to the provision of essential public health services and functions; (9) Development and dissemination of data reporting methods and systems concerning the performance of public health diagnostic and investigative services and functions; and (10) Development and dissemination of resources and tools for measuring performance regarding the provision of essential public health services and functions. (c) For the purposes of this section, the department shall coordinate the efforts of any person and the department. The department may use any or all of the following tools for the purpose of coordinating activities: (1) Ongoing and regular communication through electronic or other means; (2) Incorporation of public and private sector partners into the public health planning process; (3) Village or Territory-wide conferences or programs to share information or pursue plans for assessment, policy development or strategy, or assurance activities; or (4) Designation of leading collaborators within specific villages, topical, or practice areas that can facilitate coordination efforts.