BRMC Has Flu Preparedness Plan
By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department
A comprehensive flu preparedness plan by Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) has been instituted to ready itself and the community for the traditional flu season which now brings the added concern of the novel H1N1 virus.
BRMC’s healthcare officials say they have been diligently meeting for several months to formulate a thorough plan which includes holding seasonal flu clinics for the public and staff, monitoring patient traffic in the Emergency Department, and waging a public awareness campaign which emphasizes good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Although in previous years BRMC’s McKean County VNA & Hospice coordinated the community flu clinics, this year the vaccines will be administered at the hospital. The public will be notified of the dates via local media.
To help combat the dual risk of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu, BRMC officials are urging individuals - and particularly those in high-risk categories - to get fully vaccinated. Also, individuals who suffer flu-like symptoms should remain home until symptoms subside to avoid spreading the virus. If symptoms persist or worsen, they should see their physician or come to BRMC’s Emergency Department.
Healthcare officials say high-risk categories for the seasonal flu are the elderly, children age 5 and under and those with chronic medical conditions. Those considered in the high-risk category for getting the H1N1 flu are those between 2 months and age 24.
“We’ve developed a flu preparedness plan because we thought it’s so important to keep the community educated and to maintain calmness,” says Deborah Price, BRMC’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services.
BRMC has had “a large team of healthcare providers working since spring on this flu preparedness plan, including input from McKean County’s Emergency Medical Services in Smethport,” Mrs. Price notes.
“There are two different flu viruses this year - the traditional seasonal flu and also the novel H1N1 virus that surfaced in the spring,” explains Richard Freeman, M.D., director of BRMC’s Occupational and Employee Health.
To combat the seasonal flu this fall, a one-shot vaccine will once again be available to battle three virus strains, says Dr. Freeman.
As in past years, seasonal flu vaccines will be offered in early October. There will be one key change, though. “We’ll have seasonal flu vaccine clinics just at BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center,” Mrs. Price says.
“The seasonal one-shot flu vaccine will be available in a few weeks,” Dr. Freeman says, noting there’s an ample supply for the community.
By mid- to late October, the two-shot H1N1 flu vaccine will begin to become available, Dr. Freeman explains. “This will involve an initial shot and then three weeks later a booster shot will have to be administered,” he says.
Because the H1N1 flu was unexpected, manufacturers could not produce the vaccine quickly enough to have a full supply by mid-October. “More supplies of the H1N1 flu vaccine will become available in increments through October, November and early December,” the physician explains.
“The H1N1 flu vaccine will be obtained for us by the Pennsylvania Department of Health,” Dr. Freeman says.
Once the first H1N1 vaccination is given, the individual will get a card specifying when to return for the second shot.
Those age 24 and under are considered to be particularly susceptible to the H1N1 flu, say officials from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The World Health Organization predicts a third of the world’s population will eventually be infected by the H1N1 flu. The virus is still circulating and most health experts predict a resurgence in the autumn as temperatures cool and schools, traditional breeding grounds for infection, re-open after summer holidays.
Meanwhile, BRMC has adopted several unique measures for flu prevention.
“For the first time, BRMC employees will be required to get the seasonal flu vaccine” to prevent the spread of the virus to patients, visitors or fellow employees, says Dr. Freeman.
“Those employees who don’t get vaccinated will be required to wear masks when they’re within five to 10 feet of patients,” says Terrie O’Brien, RN, BRMC’s infection control practitioner.
“If for some reason BRMC employees are unable to be vaccinated for the seasonal flu, they will have to wear a mask when caring for patients during the flu season,” Mrs. Price notes.
Additionally, BRMC visitors are already greeted at entrances with signs that encourage them to use good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Also, if visitors have flu-like symptoms or coughs when entering the hospital, “Please ask for a mask to avoid spreading viruses,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
“People need to remember that viruses can spread if they cough or sneeze,” Mrs. O’Brien says. “Droplets from a cough or sneeze can easily travel 3 to 6 feet.”
If someone must cough or sneeze, “Please do it into your elbow,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
“It’s also important to practice good hand hygiene wherever you are by washing frequently with soap and water,” Mrs. O’Brien reminds.
During the spring of 2008, BRMC installed 20 hand sanitizers in high-traffic locations in waiting rooms, lobbies and near elevators. “We put hand sanitizers in these public areas to encourage staff and hospital visitors to use them as they are leaving or returning to patient care areas,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
Another flu prevention measure could be adopted soon at BRMC. “We’re looking at spatially separating the Emergency Department waiting room so those with flu-like symptoms will not be in close contact with others,” says Mrs. O’Brien.
Ideally, those with flu-like symptoms should remain home. “My best advice is to not go to work or school if you have flu-like symptoms. Stay home until you are free of symptoms for at least 24 hours,” Dr. Freeman says.
“People with prolonged or worsening flu symptoms should see their physician or come to BRMC’s Emergency Department. We’ll always be here to provide care,” Mrs. Price says.
Both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus display similar symptoms of fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches and diarrhea, says Mrs O’Brien.
Health officials say these categories are considered to have a particularly high risk for seasonal flu complications: children between 6 months and age 5; those age 6 months to 18 on long-term aspirin treatment because they could develop Reye’s Syndrome if they get the flu; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; people of any age with certain medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, anemia and other blood disorders; those with a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS; long-term treatment with drugs or steroids; and people who live in nursing homes and other long-term facilities.
The H1N1 flu, however, disproportionately affects younger people between 2 months and 24 years of age. Others considered high-risk categories for the H1N1 flu include pregnant mothers, adults under age 65 with medical conditions, healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel.
On average in the U.S., more than 220,000 are hospitalized every year because of the seasonal flu and 36,000 die, according to CDC officials. However, those numbers are expected to rise with the arrival of the H1N1 flu.
For more information about the flu or other health matters, go to www.brmc.com and click on the Medline Plus icon, or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Web site at www.health.state.pa.us.
Communications Department
A comprehensive flu preparedness plan by Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) has been instituted to ready itself and the community for the traditional flu season which now brings the added concern of the novel H1N1 virus.
BRMC’s healthcare officials say they have been diligently meeting for several months to formulate a thorough plan which includes holding seasonal flu clinics for the public and staff, monitoring patient traffic in the Emergency Department, and waging a public awareness campaign which emphasizes good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Although in previous years BRMC’s McKean County VNA & Hospice coordinated the community flu clinics, this year the vaccines will be administered at the hospital. The public will be notified of the dates via local media.
To help combat the dual risk of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu, BRMC officials are urging individuals - and particularly those in high-risk categories - to get fully vaccinated. Also, individuals who suffer flu-like symptoms should remain home until symptoms subside to avoid spreading the virus. If symptoms persist or worsen, they should see their physician or come to BRMC’s Emergency Department.
Healthcare officials say high-risk categories for the seasonal flu are the elderly, children age 5 and under and those with chronic medical conditions. Those considered in the high-risk category for getting the H1N1 flu are those between 2 months and age 24.
“We’ve developed a flu preparedness plan because we thought it’s so important to keep the community educated and to maintain calmness,” says Deborah Price, BRMC’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services.
BRMC has had “a large team of healthcare providers working since spring on this flu preparedness plan, including input from McKean County’s Emergency Medical Services in Smethport,” Mrs. Price notes.
“There are two different flu viruses this year - the traditional seasonal flu and also the novel H1N1 virus that surfaced in the spring,” explains Richard Freeman, M.D., director of BRMC’s Occupational and Employee Health.
To combat the seasonal flu this fall, a one-shot vaccine will once again be available to battle three virus strains, says Dr. Freeman.
As in past years, seasonal flu vaccines will be offered in early October. There will be one key change, though. “We’ll have seasonal flu vaccine clinics just at BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center,” Mrs. Price says.
“The seasonal one-shot flu vaccine will be available in a few weeks,” Dr. Freeman says, noting there’s an ample supply for the community.
By mid- to late October, the two-shot H1N1 flu vaccine will begin to become available, Dr. Freeman explains. “This will involve an initial shot and then three weeks later a booster shot will have to be administered,” he says.
Because the H1N1 flu was unexpected, manufacturers could not produce the vaccine quickly enough to have a full supply by mid-October. “More supplies of the H1N1 flu vaccine will become available in increments through October, November and early December,” the physician explains.
“The H1N1 flu vaccine will be obtained for us by the Pennsylvania Department of Health,” Dr. Freeman says.
Once the first H1N1 vaccination is given, the individual will get a card specifying when to return for the second shot.
Those age 24 and under are considered to be particularly susceptible to the H1N1 flu, say officials from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The World Health Organization predicts a third of the world’s population will eventually be infected by the H1N1 flu. The virus is still circulating and most health experts predict a resurgence in the autumn as temperatures cool and schools, traditional breeding grounds for infection, re-open after summer holidays.
Meanwhile, BRMC has adopted several unique measures for flu prevention.
“For the first time, BRMC employees will be required to get the seasonal flu vaccine” to prevent the spread of the virus to patients, visitors or fellow employees, says Dr. Freeman.
“Those employees who don’t get vaccinated will be required to wear masks when they’re within five to 10 feet of patients,” says Terrie O’Brien, RN, BRMC’s infection control practitioner.
“If for some reason BRMC employees are unable to be vaccinated for the seasonal flu, they will have to wear a mask when caring for patients during the flu season,” Mrs. Price notes.
Additionally, BRMC visitors are already greeted at entrances with signs that encourage them to use good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Also, if visitors have flu-like symptoms or coughs when entering the hospital, “Please ask for a mask to avoid spreading viruses,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
“People need to remember that viruses can spread if they cough or sneeze,” Mrs. O’Brien says. “Droplets from a cough or sneeze can easily travel 3 to 6 feet.”
If someone must cough or sneeze, “Please do it into your elbow,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
“It’s also important to practice good hand hygiene wherever you are by washing frequently with soap and water,” Mrs. O’Brien reminds.
During the spring of 2008, BRMC installed 20 hand sanitizers in high-traffic locations in waiting rooms, lobbies and near elevators. “We put hand sanitizers in these public areas to encourage staff and hospital visitors to use them as they are leaving or returning to patient care areas,” Mrs. O’Brien says.
Another flu prevention measure could be adopted soon at BRMC. “We’re looking at spatially separating the Emergency Department waiting room so those with flu-like symptoms will not be in close contact with others,” says Mrs. O’Brien.
Ideally, those with flu-like symptoms should remain home. “My best advice is to not go to work or school if you have flu-like symptoms. Stay home until you are free of symptoms for at least 24 hours,” Dr. Freeman says.
“People with prolonged or worsening flu symptoms should see their physician or come to BRMC’s Emergency Department. We’ll always be here to provide care,” Mrs. Price says.
Both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus display similar symptoms of fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches and diarrhea, says Mrs O’Brien.
Health officials say these categories are considered to have a particularly high risk for seasonal flu complications: children between 6 months and age 5; those age 6 months to 18 on long-term aspirin treatment because they could develop Reye’s Syndrome if they get the flu; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; people of any age with certain medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, anemia and other blood disorders; those with a weakened immune system from HIV/AIDS; long-term treatment with drugs or steroids; and people who live in nursing homes and other long-term facilities.
The H1N1 flu, however, disproportionately affects younger people between 2 months and 24 years of age. Others considered high-risk categories for the H1N1 flu include pregnant mothers, adults under age 65 with medical conditions, healthcare workers and emergency medical service personnel.
On average in the U.S., more than 220,000 are hospitalized every year because of the seasonal flu and 36,000 die, according to CDC officials. However, those numbers are expected to rise with the arrival of the H1N1 flu.
For more information about the flu or other health matters, go to www.brmc.com and click on the Medline Plus icon, or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Web site at www.health.state.pa.us.
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