Preparing Your Medical Practice for the Swine Flu (H1N1)
Because no one is able to predict the future severity of the H1N1 virus, every medical office needs to be ready to manage an H1N1 outbreak among office staff and patients. Every medical practice should familiarize itself with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for management of H1N1 exposure and administration of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
Prepare Your Patients
Let patients know you are following the CDC recommendations for H1N1 vaccine administration.
Prepare Your Staff
- Remind staff to practice good hand and cough hygiene.
- Require any sick employees to stay home.
- Send employees with flu-like symptoms home.
- Have sick employees stay home until symptoms have been gone for 24 hours.
Enhance Hand Washing and Cleaning Procedures
Hand washing is critical for the prevention of H1N1. The H1N1 virus can remain active on a surface touched by an infected person for up to eight hours. Increase office cleaning procedures with antibacterial solutions. Education is the key to prevention.
H1N1 Vaccination
The CDC has issued a recommendation for the following groups to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine:
- Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications; can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months of age
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel
- All people from six months through 24 years of age
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years with health conditions
For additional information, go to the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu.
Read our Alert “FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Intravenous Antiviral Peramivir for 2009 H1N1 Influenza.”
The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each health care provider in light of all circumstances prevailing in the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.