Is there a good website covering what a medium sized primary care physician practice (pediatrics) should do to prepare for pandemic flu? I have seen the CDC sites and other government sites for hospital preparation. That is too much for an office of 10 physicians to do. Is there a scaled back model somewhere?
I haven`t seen one. But, then, I haven`t looked.
Have you set up a phone triage(if they are working,that is)for your patient`s parents. Have you taught all those parents how to make ORS,take a temp, treat a temp? Are you, your partners, and your staff personally prepped? Is your office regularly disinfected?Toys,counters,and equipment cleaned with Clorox solution or another cleaner?
First I would educate your staff. Get PPES for them too. Yuo cant expect the mto work without them. Then I would educate all your parents, I would give them the current CFR rates for children. Id tell them there is no vaccine and the antivirals will be in very shrt supply. Then I would include copies of th ewarning that went out to the embassies [ the original one that advised 12 weeks of food and water] I would hit up your pharm salespeople for some extra MDIs [albuteral] and prednisone. Id contact your local health dept and find out what kind of plans they have. Id advise my parents to avoid exposure. Tell them healthcare as they know it wont exist. Be honest it could save lives. Just some thoughts
You may find some of the information on this site useful? It is the New Zealand guidelines guidelines for health sector
Community-based assessment centres are to be established, which will ‘take over’ from primary healthcare providers - general practitioners - you may find more in the main plans on this site as well.
Hope it is of some help.
Check Australia also through the main Wiki links - I think there is some public material available there.
CW? — 29 November 2006, 00:09
pediatric practices are small businesses. Check the business continuity? page at the wiki as well. Also, 70% alcohol wipes for stethescopes and surfaces and a thorough review of waiting room toy-cleaning policy would be relevant!
I’ll post here if if find anything. if you have a chance, please write me at demfromct@earthlink.net.
http://www.fluwikie.com/pmwiki.php?n=Consequences.WorkplaceContinuity
Yes, don’t keep the staff nor your parents in the dark. If the families were stocking up and getting educated, including in case of grid and potable water disruption, and getting ready to avoid infection, you might save lives.
You don’t want those children and parents to have to go to the panflu triage, and, whatever fiacso the body management will be. The more families survive without losses the better society will be able to function post-pandemic.
There are some handouts on the Wiki for the public, and, the large file communication project; if you need help, someone will point. (Do you need certain languages other than english?)
Not being honest with the public that we may have a pandemic influenza year with high fatalities will not prevent panic it will leave people unprepared, and survivors will be outraged that they weren’t truthfully warned. Don’t think “they can’t do it”; they weren’t told it is life or death that they try. Fair warning is ethical.
(I know practices here aren’t telling the parents, and of course it is overwhelming for pediatricians to contemplate, -or local officials don’t want them to tell- but, not discussing it will not prevent pandemic from occurring. What is the plan to keep pregnant women from becoming infected and where will they labor and deliver? What ideas can your practice and local authorities and schools and faith communities come up with for care of unattended minors during pandemic?
All the best to you. People will still need doctors and nurses post-pandemic.