 Based on the recommendations made by the Department of Health and Human Services, this document is a policy manual that is intended to give long term care facilities everything they need to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. It gives information on the influenza virus, signs and symptoms, how the virus becomes a pandemic, and vaccine information. The plan comes with a CD-Rom so you can customize it for your facility.
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 – 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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