KHA Emergency Preparedness 

 

Ready or Not?
Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism
Report from the Trust for America's Health

CDC Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States
Early, Targeted, Layered Use of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions

    
HRSA - Emergency Preparedness Lending Library Program

OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances

 

Bioterrorism Reference Materials for Hospitals

I. Introduction

II. Emergency Contact Numbers

III. Recognition of Illness Associated with the Intentional Release of a Biologic Agent

IV. Summary of Biological Agents

V. Biological Agents: Signs and Symptoms

VI. Pediatric Dosages for Cipro and Doxycycline

A. Kilograms
B. Pounds

VII. Bioterrorism Agents Fact Sheets 

A. Anthrax
     -- CDC Collaboration Yields New Test for Anthrax
B. Smallpox
C. Plague
D. Tularemia 
E. Botulism
F. Brucellosis
G. Cholera
H. Glanders
I.  Q Fever
J. Avian Flu
    -- CDC Key Facts on Avian Flu
K. Influenza
     -- CDC 2005-2006 Influenza Information
L. Pandemic Flu
M. Radiation Emergencies

VIII. Media Relations

A. Tips for dealing with the media 

IX. Specimen Handling and Transport

A. CDC guidelines

i. Specimen Collection Procedures Manual
ii. Lab Issues

B. Link to Kentucky Department of Public Health Laboratory

X. Mail Safety

A. Handling of Suspicious packages and envelopes - OSHA Recommendations
B. FBI guidelines
C. CDC Public Health Guidelines for Anthrax Letters or Packages
D. Sample Guidance Document for Initial Response to Suspicious Package or Mail

XI. Isolation Guidelines  

XII. Personal Protection Equipment Recommendations

XIII. Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks

XIV. Web-Based WMD Training for Hospital Staff

XV. Information Links

A. National Links

B. Kentucky Specific Links

XVI. Smallpox Information

XVII. Sample Documents

XVIII. Cultural Guidelines for Health Care Providers Interacting with Patients and their Families

 

 

The Kentucky Hospital Association is committed to ensuring that its members are prepared to respond to the wide range of emergencies, disasters, and events that might take place in Kentucky. As part of this effort, KHA has formed the KHA Hospital Bioterrorism Committee, which is working with the Kentucky Department of Public Health in ensuring disaster preparedness for Kentucky's hospitals. The following information has been identified by the Committee as valuable in assisting hospital personnel in the identification of bioterrorism and other hazardous agents and in responding appropriately during such an emergency. For more information about KHA's Bioterrorism Committee, contact Dick Bartlett.

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CDC Public Health Guidance for Anthrax Threat Letters or Packages

Recently, a number of individuals and organizations have received envelopes or packages with letters indicating that "anthrax" was either on the letter or in the envelope. Some of these envelopes may have suspicious contents. CDC previously has issued guidance to help address these events in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Bioterrorism Alleging Use of Anthrax and Interim Guidelines for Management — United States, 1998. MMWR 1999:48 (no.4)  (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm4804.pdf).

Initial steps to assist in management of these incidents include:

  1. Contact local law enforcement and the FBI field office and inform them of the incident. Law enforcement personnel should coordinate a risk assessment for those persons involved in the incident

  2. State and local health department officials and persons with expertise in these areas also should be involved in the decision-making process. Contact CDC through the 24-hour emergency notification system (770-488-7100). This telephone number is staffed 24 hours a day by CDC personnel; outside of regular working hours, staff from this office will be paged to return your call. CDC will assist in contacting appropriate federal and state health and law enforcement officials

  3. Decisions about the need for decontamination and initiation of antibiotic prophylaxis should be made by health officials responsible for the jurisdiction in which the incident occurs. In most circumstances, the decision to initiate prophylaxis can be delayed until the presence or absence of Bacillus anthracis is determined

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Hospital Emergency Incident Command System

The following documents provide information from the latest AHA Disaster Readiness Advisory regarding the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS), a project of the San Mato County (CA) Department of Health Services' Emergency Medical Services Agency.  The first document is AHA's Disaster Readiness Advisory Number 4, explaining HEICS, A Hospital Readiness Template.  The second document provides a complete introduction to the system.  They are available here in PDF format. 

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Additional SARS Information from the CDC

Cultural Guidelines for Health Care Providers Interacting with Patients and their Families

The following eleven guides are from the Metro Chicago Healthcare Council, and cover different faiths/traditions.  Issues included are religious beliefs, culture, celebrations, beliefs related to health care, general beliefs and practices, medical and nursing care, spiritual care/prayers, diet/food preference and practices, beginning of life care and end of life care. They do not contain treatment protocols, but provide insight into the patient's beliefs so that health care practitioners can be sensitive to their patients' needs and provide the best possible care.