Government issues a pandemic flu checklist

Everyone, including physicians, should prepare to be self-sufficient in the event of an outbreak of pandemic flu, advises the HHS secretary.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. April 3, 2006.

Washington -- Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt is urging physicians to prepare for a pandemic flu outbreak and, to that end, would like to ask a few questions: Do you have a planning committee to address pandemic influenza preparedness for your office or clinic? Is there a plan to contact key public health department personnel? How would patients be cared for at the height of an epidemic?

These are also some of the items on an HHS pandemic planning checklist for office- and clinic-based physicians. The list is the latest in a series that targets the needs of state and local governments, schools, businesses, families and home health care organizations.

Leavitt unveiled the physician's version when he spoke March 13 at the AMA's National Advocacy Conference in Washington. AMA policy supports increased federal spending for pandemic flu preparation as well as the administration's strategy for preparing for a possible outbreak.

Now is the time to plan for staff shortages and stockpile supplies of masks and gloves in case normal delivery routes are disrupted. "How would you handle a surge of patients if 40% of your work force couldn't get to the office?" Leavitt asked.

And not only should a plan be drafted, but physicians should be ready to act on it, he said.

Leavitt has been delivering a similar message to states -- he's visited about half so far. Self-sufficiency should be the goal for everyone, he said. Because a pandemic likely would break out almost simultaneously in many parts of the country, the federal government could not be relied upon to send help to everyone in need. States and localities as well as physicians' offices and households will have to be prepared to fend for themselves. "It's a good idea for people to have a couple of weeks of food and water available, not just for a pandemic but for any community emergency," he said. "Personal preparedness is a very solid ethic that makes a community safer."