This book was written in accordance with the recommendations on pandemic planning by the Department of Health and Human Services. As such, it is also a policy manual intended for emergency preparedness for long term care facilities. Its primary thrust is planning now – before a pandemic starts. It includes sections on forming a planning committee, staff training, vaccine information, influx of infectious patients, isolation, cough etiquette, staffing issues, and quarantine. The text is included on a CD-Rom so you may customize it for your facility. The book also comes with the Pandemic Influenza powerpoint.
Contents of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Readiness Plan for Long Term Care Facilities:
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Introduction – Information about the influenza virus, the WHO pandemic phases, and how the virus becomes pandemic.
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Safety Committee – Representation, meetings, responsibilities, and a safety committee roster form.
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Written Preparedness Plan – An outline for a written preparedness plan. Includes preparedness checklists.
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Administrative Measures – Policies for department coordination, communications (both internal and external), funds allocation, and other administrative issues.
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Staffing – Policies for general staff management, staff management during a quarantine, use of alternate associates (e.g., volunteers), and associates who fall ill on the job. Includes forms for
- Quarantine – daily departmental staff status checklist
- Daily associate symptom screening
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Employee Education and Training – An outline for employee education topics, including the virus, the facility’s preparedness plan, current epidemiology, prevention, and the vaccine.
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Surveillance – A policy for surveillance of influenza.
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Criteria for Evaluation of Possible Pandemic Flu – This policy includes the clinical criteria for influenza, epidemiological criteria, and a form for clinical evaluation of patients with influenza-like illness.
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Influx of Infectious Patients – A policy for planning for large numbers of infectious patients.
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Prevention – Policies on droplet precautions, resident placement, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, environmental measures, and resident transport. Includes a form for defining alternate bed areas.
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Influenza Vaccine – Information on the vaccine, both for seasonal flu and for the development of a vaccine against the pandemic strain of influenza.
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Resident and Employee Counseling – Recommendations for counseling during a time that will be extremely stressful and disturbing for both residents and employees.
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Long Term Care Facilities Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist -- A comprehensive checklist of preparedness measures needed in the facility.
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References
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Appendix: Sample Actions for seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza.
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Appendix: Influenza Control Measures
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