Melissa House, Ph.D.: Public HealthWalden University

PUBH 8165-1Instructor: Dr. Robert Marino

Spring Qtr, 2011

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After this presentation you will be able to:

Define Pandemic Influenza

Describe the potential impacts of Pandemic Influenza

Identify preventative strategies against Pandemic Influenza

Identify key roles in emergency preparedness

Identify the key components in an emergency preparedness plan

Identify how to develop an emergency preparedness checklist

WHAT IS PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity within the affected population

Causes serious illness

Spreads quickly

Global disease outbreak

OSHA, 2011, State of New Jersey, 2007

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

Rapid spread

Overload within Health Care Systems

Inadequate medical supplies

Inadequate personnel

Economic and Social disruption

(NCBI, 2009)

STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Early detection

Treatment

Infection control

Vaccination

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010

PRE-PANDEMIC PERIOD

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Develop process & decision plans

Disease surveillance

Communication/Agency Collaboration

Education/Training

Medication Use

Healthcare facility capacity

Supplies

Personnel

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004

STATE & LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop process & decision plans

Collaboration with other agencies

Communication

Legal & ethical issues

HHS RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide:

Guidance

Resources

Collaboration with other agencies

OUTBREAK PERIOD

HEALTHCARE FACILITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Activate Plans

Heighten surveillance

Establish communication

Infection control

Reporting

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004

STATE & LOCAL HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide other agencies with up to date information:

Spread of disease

Location

Statistical Information

Assist with other agencies

HHS RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist other agencies:

Medication management & dispense

Supplies

PREPARING A CHECKLIST

PLAN COMPONENTS

Surveillance

Communication

Education/Training

Triage

Access

Occupational Health

Vaccination

SURVEILLANCE

SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Establish procedures to identify and tract outbreak within area.

Lab Testing – How, when, & who

What type of data to collect & monitor

How often to monitor data

Timing of data collection

Quality Assurance

World Health Organization, 2005

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION PLAN

Develop plan that includes key stakeholders.

Develop collaborative partnerships with other agencies.

Develop policies of how information is to be presented.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Develop education and training plans for both healthcare workers and patients

Training should include:

Prevention, identification & treatment for pandemic influenza.

Hospital procedures/plans to be implemented during a pandemic situation.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Cross-training for staff

Educational handouts for patients

Educational drills to prepare staff for emergency situations

Up-to-date information education on possible pandemic diseases Control, treatment, prevention, etc.

Training on personal preparedness

TRIAGE

TRIAGE PLAN

Develop triage plan that includes

Screening protocols

Treatment priority protocols

Transport protocols

Isolation protocols

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004

FACILITY ACCESS

ACCESS PLAN

Develop a plan that addresses access to the facility during pandemic situations.

Plans should include:

Procedures for closing & limiting access to the facility

Visitor access & limitation

Security

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Development of plans to deliver vaccine or antiviral medications to personnel.

This includes a method for: Prioritizing personnel receipt of

vaccine/medication Monitoring system to assess

employee exposure Policy for the management of

employees who become ill or who present with symptoms

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004

VACCINATION

VACCINATION ADMINISTRATION

Development of a plan that established procedures for vaccination use

Procedures should include:

Priority list

When to start giving vaccination

How vaccinations will be given

SUMMARY

Preparation for a pandemic event is crucial to all healthcare facilities. When proper planning is put into place, the detrimental affects of a pandemic outbreak can be avoided. It is also important that all potential resources are included in the planning process to ensure adequate procedures and training.

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm.

NCBI. (2009). Disaster planning: potential effects of an influenza pandemic on community healthcare resources. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19739459.

State of New Jersey. (2007). Pandemic preparedness planning template for federally qualified health centers. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/health/flu/documents/plan/hlth_app_3.pdf.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan Supplement 3 Healthcare Planning. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup3.html#process.

REFERENCES CONT.

World Health Organization. (2005). WHO: Checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness planning. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/csr/recources/publications/influenza/Flucheck6web.pdf.

FURTHER READING

Emergency Management Guide

www.fema.gov

Emergency Response and Crisis Management Technical Assistance Center – Creating Emergency Management Plans

http://rems.ed.gov/docs/CreatingPlans.pdf

Seasonal Flu Guidance for Health Professionals

http://www.flu.gov/professional/hospital/index.html