| Since 1997 when the first case of bird flu, or | | | | related to community and patient needs, |
| avian flu, was reported to have been spread to | | | | employee absences, and interrupted supply and |
| humans, health care professionals have been | | | | delivery schedules must be addressed, as well as |
| starting to look at what type of hospital pandemic | | | | effective ways of managing these challenges |
| flu plans need to be in place to best serve their | | | | during a flu pandemic. |
| communities. | | | | Vaccine manufacturers and researchers are doing |
| Hospital administrators in countries around the | | | | the foundation work that is necessary to develop |
| world have increasingly been gathering critical | | | | a bird flu vaccine, but an actual vaccine against a |
| knowledge and information needed to prepare an | | | | pandemic cannot be manufactured until the virus |
| effective hospital pandemic flu preparedness plan | | | | has emerged. |
| that will address both patient care and employee | | | | Because of concerns about available vaccine and |
| health needs. | | | | the possibility that health care services may be |
| Hospitals are responsible for providing a safe and | | | | spread very thin in a pandemic influenza outbreak, |
| healthful workplace for their employees and for | | | | personal pandemic preparations must also be |
| the patients under their care during a pandemic | | | | considered by individuals and families. Sian Griffiths, |
| event. As part of the preparedness activities, | | | | director of Hong Kong's School of Public Health at |
| public health agencies and hospitals are more | | | | the Chinese University, believes that the most |
| frequently engaging in coordinating and conducting | | | | effective method for stopping the spread of a |
| exercises and drills focused on a possible flu | | | | bird flu pandemic is really very simple: good |
| pandemic. | | | | hygiene. Careful washing of hands and avoiding |
| During a flu pandemic event, hospitals will be | | | | touching eyes, nose or mouth can significantly |
| responsible for providing the brunt of essential | | | | reduce the possible spread of influenza of any |
| services pandemic influenza would require. Hospital | | | | type. Also, avoid close contact with those who |
| administration also must take into consideration | | | | are already sick or showing symptoms. Covering |
| that they will the have the dual responsibility of | | | | the mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or |
| caring for large numbers of critically ill patients and | | | | sneezing will also help limit the spread. Wash your |
| of protecting the health of hospital personnel, | | | | hands often. |
| during a period when resources and staffing are | | | | While there is no immediate threat of bird flu virus |
| expected to be strained, which makes pandemic | | | | spreading widely into the human population, it is |
| influenza hospital policies even more critical to be | | | | reassuring to be aware that hospital pandemic flu |
| well thought out and prepared for. | | | | plans are being made. However, because of |
| As the world health community waits for what it | | | | inherent limitations in case of a pandemic influenza |
| looking like an inevitable flu pandemic, some are | | | | presentation, it is emphasized that personal |
| concerned that the chronic nationwide shortage of | | | | pandemic preparations should always be |
| health care workers in US hospitals could increase. | | | | considered a first line of defense. |
| What can be expected during a flu pandemic | | | | |