Facilities
Pandemic Influenza Checklist
On May 16,2006 HHS Secretary Mike
Leavitt announced the release of the "Long-Term Care and Other Residential
Facilities Pandemic Influenza Checklist." This tool provides guidance for these
facilities to assess and improve their preparedness for responding to pandemic
influenza.
"The collaboration of long-term
care and other residential facilities with public health agencies will be
important in protecting the people living in those facilities if and when a
pandemic occurs," Secretary Leavitt said. "These facilities provide vital
services for their residents. By working together now, we'll be better equipped
to serve these residents and their caregivers in the future."
The new checklist identifies steps
that long-term care and other residential facilities can take to prepare for a
pandemic, and could be helpful in other types of emergencies. The checklist was
developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Preparedness suggestions include:
· Have
a structure for planning and decision-making, with a multidisciplinary group
created to specifically pandemic influenza preparedness planning.
· Develop
a written pandemic influenza plan that identifies the person or persons
authorized to implement the plan and the organizational structure to be used.
· Develop
a facility communication plan that includes key points of contact such as local
and state health department officials, and a person responsible for
communicating with staff, residents and families.
· Have
a plan to provide education and training to ensure that all personnel, residents
and family members of residents understand basic prevention and control measures
for pandemic influenza.
· Have
an infection control plan in place for managing residents and visitors with
pandemic influenza.
· Have
a plan to get and use vaccines and antiviral drugs.
· Address
issues related to sudden increased needs, such as prioritizing services,
staffing and supply shortages, and alternative care for residents who need acute
care when hospital beds are unavailable.
The release of this new tool builds
on the Administration's overall planning to increase pandemic preparedness.
President Bush has outlined a coordinated government strategy that includes the
establishment of the new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic
Influenza, stockpiling of vaccines and antiviral medications, expansion of
early-warning systems domestically and abroad and new funding and initiatives
for local and state level preparedness
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