Snowy Owl
March 12th, 2006, 04:46 AM
Communities urged to plan for meeting populations' health care needs Health Services Could Be Overwhelmed in a Pandemic, Experts Say
Communities urged to plan for meeting populations' health care needs
This fact sheet was compiled from various Internet sources as well as from presentations made at a February conference, held in Minnesota, on business planning for a pandemic.
Following information applies to pandemic influenza generally:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of International Information Programs
Washington, D.C.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY: PLANNING FOR A PANDEMIC
Health care services likely will be overburdened if confronted by a pandemic: Hospitals and clinics could be overwhelmed by thousands of seriously ill patients; health care workers might be in short supply because of their own illnesses.
Communities and health care providers should plan now for maintaining a workable health care system during a crisis that could last several months. Planning should include the delivery of triage care, self-care and telephone consultations.
HEALTH CARE CONCERNS
Health care planning for a potential pandemic should involve all levels of government, including specialists in policy development, legislative review and drafting, human and animal health, patient care, laboratory diagnosis and testing, disaster management and communications.
Health professionals must learn how to communicate risk effectively and be able to provide the facts to a frightened population. Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and in academia say that communities must prepare for:
• Medical shortages of equipment and supplies such as ventilators, respirators, syringes, anti-bacterial soap, anti-virals, vaccines, clean water and waste management.
• Death management challenges: refrigerated trucks dedicated to transporting bodies, and crematory and funeral service facilities that may be in short supply.
Disruptions in routine health care services and the likely need for alternative sites, such as gymnasiums, nursing homes, daycare facilities and tents, to provide health care. Plans should also address who could be used as alternates in some positions.
For additional information, see Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning (http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/influenza/CDS_CSR_GIP_2005_4.pdf) (PDF, 39 pages) on the WHO Web site.
PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS BEFORE AND DURING A PANDEMIC
According to WHO, community health care managers should make plans now to determine:
• Where patients will be treated;
• What will be the admission criteria for existing and newly created health care facilities;
• How specimens will be collected and transported to laboratories;
• Who will get priority if there are limited quantities of protective masks and gloves; and
• How large a supply of chlorine for water purification is sufficient if shipments are delayed or suspended. Many cities keep only enough chlorine on hand to last five days to seven days.
According to Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnestota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy, normal, everyday surgical masks and pieces of cloth tied across the face will do little or nothing to stop the spread of virulent viral strains that can be airborne or transmitted on droplets expelled in a cough. Special masks with sealed sides to block out contaminated air can be purchased from medical product suppliers, but after one wear they must be disposed of properly to avoid contact with lingering germs, Osterholm said.
An improved vaccine production system with the capacity to meet surges in demand also is needed, according to experts. Under the 2005 Public Readiness and Preparedness Act, the secretary of health and human services, in the event of bioterrorism or pandemic, can allow companies to produce medical supplies under a streamlined process without incurring legal liability. Planning for a better vaccine production system is an element of the Bush administration's National Strategy rolled out late in 2005.
WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
To avoid contracting or passing flu viruses to others, individuals should wash hands after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and contaminated items; after removing gloves; and between physical contacts with other people. Wash with either plain or anti-microbial soap and water or use alcohol-based products (gels, rinses or foams) that contain an emollient and do not require the use of water.
They also should:
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, or exposed skin with contaminated hands. Avoid touching surfaces doorknobs, keys, light switches without clean gloves.
• Use gloves and eye protection if in contact with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
• Contain and dispose of solid waste in accordance with community health guidelines.
• Make sure building ventilation systems are well maintained to protect people inside from airborne threats.
Families should stock cupboards with enough nonperishable and prepackaged food products to last four weeks to five weeks. Supplies should include bottled water, canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal, granola and fruit bars, crackers, peanut butter or nuts, canned juices, canned or jarred baby food and formula, and pet food.
To avoid opportunities for exposure, shoppers should consolidate trips to the grocery store by purchasing larger quantities than normally and avoid dining outside the home during the initial months of a pandemic.
Other important precautions include stockpiling prescription drugs, if possible, as well as medical supplies like insulin and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, soap and water or alcohol-based hand wash, anti-diarrheal medication and fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.
For additional information, see the “Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families (http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/Individuals.pdf)” on the U.S. government pandemic flu Web site.
SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance is the ongoing collection, interpretation and dissemination of data to enable the development of evidence-based interventions during health crises. Community pandemic plans should include surveillance designed to detect unusual or unexplained clusters of cases of acute respiratory illness. Prompt and transparent reporting of cases and results of investigations are essential. Surveillance, which may help public health officials prevent or delay the spread of the disease, includes:
• Monitoring hospital admissions and deaths for suspected or confirmed cases of pandemic influenza
• Monitoring workforce absenteeism, especially in critical services.
• Monitoring sales of drugs used to treat acute respiratory infections or to relieve coughing.
For more information, see “Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: The Need for Enhanced Surveillance (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no2/gensheimer.htm)” in the periodical Emerging Infectious Diseases.
OTHER RESOURCES
Additional information on pandemic preparedness is available on the Web site of the;
Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy (http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/),
(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/)
Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/),
(http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/files/47/panbusplan.pdf)
Food Industry QRT Pandemic Analysis (http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/files/47/panbusplan.pdf),
PandemicFlu.gov (http://pandemicflu.gov/season_or_pandemic.html),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/factsheet.html)
World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/en/).
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov (http://usinfo.state.gov/))
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/di...wf-latest.html (http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060309151806AKllennoCcM0.2430689&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
Communities urged to plan for meeting populations' health care needs
This fact sheet was compiled from various Internet sources as well as from presentations made at a February conference, held in Minnesota, on business planning for a pandemic.
Following information applies to pandemic influenza generally:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of International Information Programs
Washington, D.C.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY: PLANNING FOR A PANDEMIC
Health care services likely will be overburdened if confronted by a pandemic: Hospitals and clinics could be overwhelmed by thousands of seriously ill patients; health care workers might be in short supply because of their own illnesses.
Communities and health care providers should plan now for maintaining a workable health care system during a crisis that could last several months. Planning should include the delivery of triage care, self-care and telephone consultations.
HEALTH CARE CONCERNS
Health care planning for a potential pandemic should involve all levels of government, including specialists in policy development, legislative review and drafting, human and animal health, patient care, laboratory diagnosis and testing, disaster management and communications.
Health professionals must learn how to communicate risk effectively and be able to provide the facts to a frightened population. Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and in academia say that communities must prepare for:
• Medical shortages of equipment and supplies such as ventilators, respirators, syringes, anti-bacterial soap, anti-virals, vaccines, clean water and waste management.
• Death management challenges: refrigerated trucks dedicated to transporting bodies, and crematory and funeral service facilities that may be in short supply.
Disruptions in routine health care services and the likely need for alternative sites, such as gymnasiums, nursing homes, daycare facilities and tents, to provide health care. Plans should also address who could be used as alternates in some positions.
For additional information, see Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning (http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/influenza/CDS_CSR_GIP_2005_4.pdf) (PDF, 39 pages) on the WHO Web site.
PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS BEFORE AND DURING A PANDEMIC
According to WHO, community health care managers should make plans now to determine:
• Where patients will be treated;
• What will be the admission criteria for existing and newly created health care facilities;
• How specimens will be collected and transported to laboratories;
• Who will get priority if there are limited quantities of protective masks and gloves; and
• How large a supply of chlorine for water purification is sufficient if shipments are delayed or suspended. Many cities keep only enough chlorine on hand to last five days to seven days.
According to Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnestota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy, normal, everyday surgical masks and pieces of cloth tied across the face will do little or nothing to stop the spread of virulent viral strains that can be airborne or transmitted on droplets expelled in a cough. Special masks with sealed sides to block out contaminated air can be purchased from medical product suppliers, but after one wear they must be disposed of properly to avoid contact with lingering germs, Osterholm said.
An improved vaccine production system with the capacity to meet surges in demand also is needed, according to experts. Under the 2005 Public Readiness and Preparedness Act, the secretary of health and human services, in the event of bioterrorism or pandemic, can allow companies to produce medical supplies under a streamlined process without incurring legal liability. Planning for a better vaccine production system is an element of the Bush administration's National Strategy rolled out late in 2005.
WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
To avoid contracting or passing flu viruses to others, individuals should wash hands after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and contaminated items; after removing gloves; and between physical contacts with other people. Wash with either plain or anti-microbial soap and water or use alcohol-based products (gels, rinses or foams) that contain an emollient and do not require the use of water.
They also should:
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, or exposed skin with contaminated hands. Avoid touching surfaces doorknobs, keys, light switches without clean gloves.
• Use gloves and eye protection if in contact with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
• Contain and dispose of solid waste in accordance with community health guidelines.
• Make sure building ventilation systems are well maintained to protect people inside from airborne threats.
Families should stock cupboards with enough nonperishable and prepackaged food products to last four weeks to five weeks. Supplies should include bottled water, canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal, granola and fruit bars, crackers, peanut butter or nuts, canned juices, canned or jarred baby food and formula, and pet food.
To avoid opportunities for exposure, shoppers should consolidate trips to the grocery store by purchasing larger quantities than normally and avoid dining outside the home during the initial months of a pandemic.
Other important precautions include stockpiling prescription drugs, if possible, as well as medical supplies like insulin and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, soap and water or alcohol-based hand wash, anti-diarrheal medication and fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.
For additional information, see the “Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families (http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/Individuals.pdf)” on the U.S. government pandemic flu Web site.
SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance is the ongoing collection, interpretation and dissemination of data to enable the development of evidence-based interventions during health crises. Community pandemic plans should include surveillance designed to detect unusual or unexplained clusters of cases of acute respiratory illness. Prompt and transparent reporting of cases and results of investigations are essential. Surveillance, which may help public health officials prevent or delay the spread of the disease, includes:
• Monitoring hospital admissions and deaths for suspected or confirmed cases of pandemic influenza
• Monitoring workforce absenteeism, especially in critical services.
• Monitoring sales of drugs used to treat acute respiratory infections or to relieve coughing.
For more information, see “Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: The Need for Enhanced Surveillance (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no2/gensheimer.htm)” in the periodical Emerging Infectious Diseases.
OTHER RESOURCES
Additional information on pandemic preparedness is available on the Web site of the;
Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy (http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/),
(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/)
Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/),
(http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/files/47/panbusplan.pdf)
Food Industry QRT Pandemic Analysis (http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/files/47/panbusplan.pdf),
PandemicFlu.gov (http://pandemicflu.gov/season_or_pandemic.html),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/factsheet.html)
World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/pandemic/en/).
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov (http://usinfo.state.gov/))
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/di...wf-latest.html (http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060309151806AKllennoCcM0.2430689&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)