News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 13, 2006

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Issues New Tool to Help Offices and Clinics Prepare for an Influenza Pandemic

Medical offices and ambulatory clinics are a first resource for many seasonal flu sufferers. The same would be true if a pandemic influenza were to strike. Recognizing the important role these organizations would play in caring for the sick, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed a checklist to help them assess readiness and plan for a response.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt released the guide during a speech at the American Medical Association (AMA) Presidents� Forum in Washington, D.C. today. The Presidents� Forum is organized by AMA for presidents, presidents-elect and executive directors of state, county and specialty medical societies and is touted as the premier leadership event for the leaders of organized medicine. The Medical Offices and Clinics Pandemics Influenza Planning Checklist will also be distributed at pandemic planning summits in states across the country.

"The ability of medical offices and ambulatory clinics to monitor illness in surrounding communities and in their own patients will be crucial to the success of dealing with a pandemic." Secretary Leavitt said. "Identifying strengths and weaknesses in their organizations now and building community contacts in advance will provide a strategic advantage if a pandemic influenza strikes."

While the checklist was designed with a pandemic influenza in mind, it could be helpful in other types of emergencies. Recommendations include:

Incorporating pandemic influenza preparedness into emergency management planning;
Having a plan for surveillance and detection of pandemic influenza in the population served;
Having a communication plan identifying key public health contacts; the organization�s point person for external communication and health care entities and their points of contact;
Providing education and training to ensure that all personnel understand the implications of and control measures for pandemic influenza;
Developing a plan for triage and management of patients during a pandemic;
Developing an infection control plan; and
Developing a vaccine and antiviral plan.

The release of checklists, correspondence with medical leadership, and the ongoing state summits build on the Administration�s overall planning to increase pandemic preparedness.

President Bush outlined a coordinated government strategy that includes the establishment of the new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, stockpiling of vaccines and antiviral medications, expansion of early-warning systems domestically and abroad and new funding and initiatives for local and state level preparedness. The first round of funding, $100 million, has been released to states for local preparedness.

A copy of the "Medical Offices and Clinics Pandemics Influenza Planning Checklist," along with the newly released "Pandemic Planning Update," other checklists and planning information are available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

###

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: March 13, 2006

The White House | USA.gov | Helping America's Youth