Info For Specific Groups

Information for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers are in the forefront for treating a community affected by H1N1. It is critical that hospitals and health systems can manage heightened demand. Here are important recommendations for preparing your staff and facilities for a pandemic.

Returning H1N1 Vaccine to CDC

Update your Pandemic Influenza Plan.
Disseminate employee communications on prevention and vaccination.
Have an employee mass vaccination plan.
Develop employee communications on making plans to deal with sick family members or school, child care or business closures.
Develop employee influenza management policies including a position on monitoring employee health and confirming illness.
Review and modify as appropriate your employee absenteeism plan.
Have a personal protection equipment plan.
Plan for patient surge.
Implement H1N1 medical management procedures and support mechanisms for separating influenza patients from others.
Stay apprised of the latest news on H1N1 in your community.
Download a quick checklist to keep all your information at hand.
Plan for Handling and Patient Administration of FluMist.

Please also review the CDC's guidelines for clinicians.

A Note on Testing
Clinicians should consider the possibility of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus infection in patients presenting with febrile respiratory illness. If influenza is suspected, clinicians should consider obtaining a respiratory specimen (nasopharyngeal or throat swab) for influenza testing using a rapid, point-of-use assay. In some circumstances, specimens can be forwarded to a reference laboratory for definitive identification. Clinicians should consult with their state or local health department about whether it is necessary to submit specimens to the state public health laboratory for further characterization.