CDC Employees Raise Concerns About ‘Serious Issues’ At Agency In Memo

February 2, 2007 – 10:25 pm | posted in Public Health

Employees from the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases at CDC have raised concerns about “very serious issues” with the agency that have affected their ability to perform their jobs, according to an internal memo obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to the Journal-Constitution, the memo represents “the latest documentation of serious, ongoing problems at the public health agency.” The memo, written last month by ZVED Director Lonnie King, highlights the results of interviews with more than 100 CDC employees. According to the memo, CDC employees cited concerns about “dilution of our scientific capacities,” a lack of resources, and ineffective systems and leadership. The memo states, “There is frustration, anger and a sense of things spinning out of control. … The intensity of emotions and commonality of experience across ZVED is both profound and real.” In addition, the memo states, “It was abundantly apparent to all participants and certainly to the rest of ZVED that there are some very serious issues that are making it difficult to accomplish our work,” adding, “These have led to decreasing morale and have resulted in some intense emotional costs and burdens.” CDC spokesperson Glen Nowak said that concerns raised by the memo are similar to those raised by other agency employees over the past three years. He said, “I don’t think there’s evidence we’ve been unable to do our job.” Nowak added that CDC remains committed to “organization excellence” and has begun a process to identify and measure excellence. Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that CDC Director Julie Gerberding should “immediately initiate an honest and open dialogue” with agency employees (Young, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/31).

The memo is available online.

“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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