Emergency Preparedness
H1N1 Flu (swine-origin influenza A)
The Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency in response to recent H1N1 flu (swine-origin influenza A) cases. (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/04/20090426a.html.)
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More information is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. |
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Network memo to New England dialysis providers. All confirmed H1N1 flu cases in New England ESRD patients should be reported to the Network at 203-387-9332.
H1N1 Flu Resources in New England
Connecticut
Department of Public Health
- State hotline and general information: 800-808-1987
- Interim
Criteria for Submission of Specimens to the Connecticut Department of Public
Health Laboratory
- New Testing Guidance: The outbreak of the novel H1N1
flu strain continues to evolve and is currently in a stage where there is
sustained community transmission. The Department of Public Health (DPH)
is currently NOT recommending H1N1 influenza testing in outpatients with
febrile respiratory illnesses for surveillance purposes.
- If testing for novel H1N1 influenza is clinically indicated for certain
outpatients, healthcare providers can request testing through a commercial
laboratory, such as Quest Diagnostics.
- Specimens sent directly to the DPH lab from non-hospitalized patients
without authorization will not be accepted. Test requests should be made
by healthcare providers ONLY.
Maine
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- State hotline and general information: 888-257-0990 (M-F 9am - 5pm)
- NextTalk (deaf/hard of hearing): 207-629-5751 (M-F 9am - 5pm)
- Maine
CDC Update on Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
Massachusetts
Department of Public Health
- State hotline and general information: 211
- Interim
Recommendations for Diagnosis and Control
- New Testing Guidance: CDC and MDPH recommend that testing
and treatment be focused on those with severe respiratory illness and those
at highest risk of complications from influenza. Individuals with mild illness
should be advised to stay at home.
New
Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
- H1N1
(Swine) Influenza Interim Clinical Guidance
- New Testing Guidance: Now that novel H1N1 is well-established
to be circulating in New Hampshire, it is neither necessary nor feasible
to test for H1N1 in every individual with influenza-like illness. Testing
should be limited to the following:
• Hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness
• Health care workers with influenza-like illness in direct care patient
settings in consultation with their health care provider
• Patients suspected to be, or is part of a cluster of undiagnosed
respiratory illness only in consultation with public health.
Rhode
Island Department of Health
- General Questions (401) 222-8022, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Hospital based providers are instructed to call (401) 222-2577
to obtain testing approval
- Instructions
for Collecting Nasopharyngeal Swab Specimens
Vermont
Department of Health
- H1N1
Influenza: Updated Recommendations for Testing & Treatment
- New Testing Guidance: Now that novel H1N1 is the predominant
influenza A type circulating in Vermont, testing should be limited to the
following:
• Hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness
• Non-hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness who are significantly
ill and have underlying health conditions that put them at risk for complications
of influenza.
• Individuals with influenza-like illness from high-risk institutional
settings such as long-term care facilities
Patients Hotlines & Information
DaVita: 800-400-8331
Fresenius: 800-626-1297
DCI: 866-424-1990
DSI: 877-374-3375
ARA: 888-880-6867
NKF: 888-33-KIDNEY (888-335-4363)
AKF: 866-300-2900
Tools
Cough
Safe Video
Hand Washing
Pledge
Pandemic
Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease and Their
Families
H1N1
(swine flu) Virus Testing & Treatment Algorithm for Clinicians
Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
Please visit the CDC website http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/ for information on natural disasters and severe weather preparedness and response.
Open and Closed Dialysis Facilities
Find and open/closed dialysis facility at http://www.dialysisunits.com
Network of New England Toll Free Number
Provider Preparedness
Emergency
Preparedness for Dialysis Facilities
Dialysis
Facility Plan Template
Provider
Disaster "To Do" List
The
Four Keys to Being Prepared
Disaster Patient
Activity Report (DPAR) - used during an emergency
only
The toll-free Emergency Hotline for patients and providers is 888-33-KIDNEY (888-335-4363). During non-emergency times, you will hear a recorded message.
Dialysis facilities provide life-sustaining treatment to patients with kidney failure. Therefore, it is imperative that they be prepared in the event of an emergency. Typically, dialysis facilities are not specified in state and local disaster plans. To ensure external support in the event of a disaster, it is recommended that facilities proactively contact the following organizations during their disaster preparedness planning phase:
· Local/regional emergency planning department
· Local/regional health department
· Local/regional social services department
· Emergency responders (fire, law enforcement, rescue)
· Utility providers (electricity, water, gas, telephone)
· Transportation vendors
CMS has instructed the Network to assist providers in having a comprehensive disaster plan in each dialysis clinic, provide educational materials to providers, and serve as a communications coordinating agent for major disasters that impact several providers in a specific area within the Network. During a major disaster, the Network is required to
· Post to a central website the status of open and
closed providers
· Assist families/providers to determine the location of displaced
dialysis patients
· Serve as a communication coordination center for strategic planning
if a large geographic area in New England is impacted for an extended duration
For a full description of how the Network can assistance providers, please click on the following link. What the Network Can Do to Help Providers
Patient Preparedness
Patients in need of assistance in the New England area should first contact their dialysis or transplant provider, their local emergency management office, or the Network of New England.
The toll-free Emergency Hotline for patients and providers is 888-33-KIDNEY (888-335-4363). During non-emergency times, you will hear a recorded message.
Additional Emergency Hotlines
Network of New England Toll-Free Number: 866-286-ESRD (3773)
DaVita: 800-400-8331
Fresenius: 800-626-1297
DCI Donor Hotline/Transient Patients: 800-969-4438
DSI: 877-374-3375
ARA: 888-880-6867
AKF: 866-300-2900
NKF: 888-33-KIDNEY (888-335-4363)
FEMA: 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585
National
Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS):
Register/Search 800-588-9822
American Red Cross "Safe
and Well" website
Resources
Patients should also prepare themselves for emergency situations that may prevent them from getting to their dialysis treatment.
Preparing for Emergencies:
A Guide for People on Dialysis
Prepárese
para Emergencias: Una guía para personas en diálisis
Patient
Disaster "To Do" List
Save
a Life Fact Sheet
ANNA's
Peritoneal Dialysis Travel Tool Box
Find and open/closed
dialysis facility
Links
to kidney-related organizations
Kidney Community Emergency
Preparedness and Response has essential information to help dialysis
patients, transplant recipients and kidney health care professionals before
and during emergencies.
Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition
In January 2006, the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition was formed in an effort to minimize disruption to life-sustaining dialysis and transplant services, and to ensure that national resources are in place to assist state and local response efforts in meeting the life saving medical needs of individuals with kidney failure in the event of a disaster.
KCER is comprised of partners from the kidney community, representing:
- Patient and professional organizations
- Practitioners serving the patient with kidney failure, such as nurses, technicians, dietitians, social workers, and physicians
- Providers, including independent dialysis facilities, large dialysis organizations and transplant facilities
- Hospitals
- Suppliers
- ESRD Networks
- State emergency and survey representatives
- Federal agencies, including the FDA, CDC, NIH and CMS
There are currently eight Response Teams which focus on a certain area for preparedness and response activities. Response Teams are:
- Coordination of Staff and Volunteers
- Communication
- Facility Operations/Industry Supplies & Services
- Federal Response
- Pandemic Preparedness
- Patient Assistance
- Patient/Provider Tracking
- Physician Placement and Assistance
Office of Emergency Management (by State)
Connecticut
Office of Emergency Management
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
360 Broad Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
(860) 566-3180
FAX (860) 247-0664
Maine
Emergency Management Agency
45 Commerce Drive, Suite #2
#72 State House StationAugusta
Maine 04333-0072
(207) 624-4400
FAX (207) 287-3180
Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency
400 Worcester Road
Framingham, Massachusetts 01702-5399
(508) 820-2000
FAX (508) 820-2030
New Hampshire Department
of Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management
33 Hazen DriveConcord
New Hampshire 03305
(603) 271-2231
FAX (603) 225-7341
Rhode Island Emergency
Management Agency
645 New London Avenue
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920-3003
(401) 946-9996
FAX (401) 944-1891
Vermont Emergency
Management Agency, Department of Public Safety
Waterbury State Complex
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, Vermont 05671-2101
Toll-Free Emergency Number (800) 347-0488
FAX (802) 244-8655
SNAPS - Snap Shots of State Population Data
SNAPS provides local-level community profile information nationwide. It can be browsed by county and state and searched by zip code. SNAPS serves as a valuable tool when responding to public health emergency events at the state, Tribal, and local levels. It provides a "snap shot" of key variables for consideration in guiding and tailoring health education and communication efforts to ensure diverse audiences receive critical public health messages that are accessible, understandable, and timely.
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
In recent years, a small number of people living in Asia have contracted a strain of the flu virus which normally affects birds. It appears that the illness was passed through contact with infected birds, not through human-to-human contact. Nevertheless, this strain of flu seems to be especially potent, with a high rate of death among those who have contracted the illness.
There is concern that this strain of avian flu, if its mode of transmission changes to human-to-human contact, could lead to a worldwide outbreak, also known as a pandemic. Currently, humans cannot contract the illness from contact with one another. But, health officials are preparing for an eventual flu pandemic, whether it is caused by this particular strain of the flu virus or some other.
Below are links to websites that have a wealth of information on the avian flu and what is being done to prepare for a potential pandemic.
Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA)
OSHA recently released Guidance
on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, which addresses what
employers can do to protect employees, plan for workforce depletion, and
maintain operations during a pandemic. This guide also provides links to
other helpful resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Get information on the National Vaccine Program Office's FluAid
software.
The Pandemic Influenza Toolkit assists healthcare professionals in discussing pandemic flu with patients and caring for them in the event that the virus spreads.
Sign up to receive email updates from the CDC! Complete a subscription profile, and you will get updated information on the items of interest to you, including influenza and avian flu.
For Patients and Families
Pandemic
Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease and Their
Families
Keeping
Yourself Safe From Bird Flu (Travel Tips)
Pandemic
Preparedness: Most Important Things to Know
For Providers and Healthcare Workers
Immunization
Action Coalition's Influenza Vaccination Pocket Information Guide
Updated
Infection Control Measures for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Healthcare
Facilities
Stockpiling
Antivirals Algorithm
Pandemic
Preparedness: Most Important Things to Know
General
Pandemic Flu Information
World
Health Organization (WHO): Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)
United States
Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Influenza Plan
Below is a list of state website postings designed to provide information and emergency actions plans for the general public to follow should this anticipated pandemic occur. By clicking on the blue hyper text a state resident will be linked to the disaster plan for their individual state.
Connecticut Pandemic
Influenza Response Plan
Maine Pandemic
Influenza Plan and Executive
Summary
Massachusetts Influenza
Pandemic Preparedness Plan
New Hampshire Interim
Influenza Pandemic Epidemiologic and Surveillance Plan
Rhode Island Pandemic
Influenza Plan
Vermont Pandemic
Influenza Response Plan
Useful Links
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/index.html
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
http://www.hhs.gov/emergency/index.shtml
http://www.davita.com/articles/dialysis/index.shtml?id=530"
http://www.ready.gov
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster
http://www.fema.gov
http://www.fmc-ag.com