PANDEMIC MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES. Developed By: All Hazards Emergency Management Team (AHEMT)

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1 PANDEMIC MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES Developed By: All Hazards Emergency Management Team (AHEMT) 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 PURPOSE STATEMENTS 5 OVERVIEW STATEMENTS 6 KEY POINTS 7 IMPLEMENTATION OUTLINE FOR YOUR PANDEMIC PLAN 8 HCAF ROLE 9 AHEMT ROLE IN HCAF PANDEMIC MANAGEMENT FUNCTION 10 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 11 APPENDICES Cover Your Cough (English, Spanish, Creole) Algorithm for Clinicians, Testing, Structure for Planning & Decision Making Swine Flu update from Florida Department of Health Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Patient Plan Assess, Access, Administer Influenza/Pneumococcal Immunization Physician Notification Form Additional items to be added as available References to Follow 2

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Outlined in your copy of the Executive Summary is an approach to planning, practicing and ultimately performing successfully when faced with severe challenges to both the business of patient care and the patient care itself. AHEMT invites you to scan this Executive Summary and Toolbox for Pandemics. Take what you need and give what is needed to your HCAF sister agencies. Our thanks and respect is due to the driving forces in getting the program upand running: Bobby Lolly, Executive Director Gene Tischer, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR of HCAF The Board of HCAF who so graciously supported AHEMT in its early stages. Diana (Dee) Kornetti, Owner/Administrator of Integrity Home Health Care, Inc. Thank you in advance to you, the reader, who will we hope take from this offering to better assist your own agency, our community of sister HCAF agencies and the patients for whom we all care. Isn t that why we all signed on to home health? Please note: Both the Executive Summary and Toolbox are living documents. Based on your experience and expertise, it can and should be updated to meet the needs of our Florida home health agencies and the patients we serve. 3

4 INTRODUCTION Preparation for Pandemics has come to the forefront because of the CDC reports of the development of new infectious processes, the resurgence of extinct diseases, and 911 with the development of Homeland Security due to the realization that terrorists plots to deploy biomedical warfare. CDC has been ever vigilant regarding the potential for the development of pandemics such as Bird Flu, Plague, and Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Federal and State governments have developed plans to prevent the spread of emerging bacterial and viral diseases. Containment is always a problem due to international travel. In order to protect the communities, agencies, staff and patients we are responsible for, a Pandemic Plan must be developed. HCAF realizes the enormity of this and has developed a toolbox for our members. 4

5 PURPOSE STATEMENTS To facilitate organization, cooperation and communication between HCAF members; To facilitate organizational cooperation and communication between statewide emergency response entities and Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF); To facilitate the planning, response and recovery phases of declared pandemics in the state of Florida that affect participating agencies. 5

6 OVERVIEW STATEMENTS Individual agency administrators or Directors of Nursing will serve as the "commander" for their agency throughout a pandemic. HCAF, through its All Hazards Emergency Management Team (AHEMT) will provide support activities to include: coordination with local, state and federal governments to facilitate operations and staffing for affected agencies. The Pandemic Plan will serve as a mechanism to increase participation by HCAF members in the effective implementation of agency involvement with their county Emergency Management Teams and Departments of Health. The Pandemic Plan will serve to attract new membership to HCAF by providing tools and mechanisms for receipt of consolidated information regarding pandemics. 6

7 KEY POINTS 1. It is unreasonable to expect local, state or federal government entities to provide for every need of every person during pandemics. 2. The expectation is high that many home health agencies will be affected by pandemics, perhaps more than once. HCAF provides a vehicle for member agencies to assist each other in staff relief and acquiring supplies. 3. Preparation is the key to ameliorating effects. 5. The agency pandemic plan must be reviewed and practiced frequently to become a viable part of preparation, response and recovery. 7

8 IMPLEMENTATION OUTLINE FOR YOUR PANDEMIC PLAN 1. Develop your plan. a. Assign employees to various aspects of the plan b. Print and distribute copies of the plan to agency staff and subcontractors c. Establish par levels for supplies such as masks and gloves d. Develop Patient care component including: i. Patient education ii. Patient assessment iii. Reporting Mechanisms 2. Review your agency plan to ensure it is up-to-date. 3. Utilize the HCAF Pandemic Management Toolbox and its online pandemic management resource page. 4. Make arrangements with local vendors for priority access necessary supplies/resources. 5. Liaise with county Emergency Management Operations Centers to ascertain required credentials and documentation to access areas during pandemic. This may include: a. Photo identification b. Statement of current employment/licensure 6. Put your pandemic plan into practice. Run a drill and evaluate your performance. 8

9 HCAF ROLE IN THE FLORIDA MUTUAL AID NETWORK 1. Gather information from interested parties who submit a Participation Form from the Executive Summary. 2. Identify a representative in each HCAF district to: a. Serve as the primary liaison to develop the mutual aid network by encouraging district members to complete and submit their Participation Forms; b. Assist in dissemination of HCAF emergency management information at the district level c. Serve as the primary contact for mutual aid network participants when a disaster occurs in their district 3. Support AHEMT activities and operations. 9

10 AHEMT ROLE IN HCAF PANDEMIC MANAGEMENT FUNCTION 1. Creates and maintains a database of participants (state wide). 2. Serves as the primary contact for district representatives when a pandemic disaster occurs in their district. 3. Produces pandemic management resources for HCAF members. 4. Maintains HCAF s website content of pandemic management information. 5. Presents an annual report to HCAF s general membership on the status of the statewide mutual aid network. 10

11 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Track possible disasters as early as possible. Notify agency staff of potential pandemics. 2. Prepare supply bags for employees in advance. a. Masks b. Antimicrobial hand soap c. Antimicrobial hand gel d. Towels e. Patient Education Tools 3. Reinforce agency staffs need to make arrangements for family in advance. 4. Review agency Pandemic Plan with staff. 5. Practice your agency s plan and evaluate what works and what needs to be improved prior to a pandemic! 11

Annex H - Pandemic or Disease Outbreak

Annex H - Pandemic or Disease Outbreak or Disease Outbreak Version: 1.0 Effective: 10/01/2015 Revision Date: 10/01/2015 Approved By: John Pitcher Purpose A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic of an infectious disease. It occurs when a new organism