Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

Appendix 13-B
Notifications sent by LHDs (and in the future, hospitals, other healthcare
providers and other emergency responders) may only be posted as targeted, i.e.,
they will only be visible on the HAN viewer of postings to the recipient audience
they originally targeted for the emergency notification, i.e., they are private
notifications. NYSDOH executive staff members at the regional and central
offices are automatically notified of notifications sent by LHDs in order to review
them in a timely way and take requisite action, e.g., notify the a larger segment of
the public health, healthcare, or emergency responder communities. NYSDOH
users are able to post a notification for “public” or targeted audience views, based
on need.
• A Commerce system user, or their HPN/HIN Coordinators may enter and
prioritize that individual’s emergency and business hours contact information in
the Communications Directory by using the Directory’s Person’s Update Tool.
This priority contact information will be used in transmitting Alert, High
Advisories or Drill level messages only.
• The system has the ability to track the progress of a given alert/advisory
notification as well as track and record the number of positive contacts made by
the system during the course of the notification and provide a confirmation report
for the sender. The system can generate text to speech, text and pre-recorded
voice messages that may easily be created by the sender. Numeric pagers, emails
and faxes are also available modes for sending notifications.
• Where secure or sensitive information is concerned, the notification message
simply will instruct the recipient to go to the HAN homepage for detailed
information about the incident.
NYSDOH will cover the costs of faxes and phone calls incurred when designated state or
local health officials use of the notification system.
Levels of Notification:
NYSDOH will adapt CDC terminology and standard formats and vocabularies for
notifications – (please note: User-prioritized emergency day and after hours contact
information is used for alerts, high advisories, and drills.):
1. Alert – highest priority and urgency level of emergency notification; warrants
immediate action or attention by the recipient. The Recipient’s Emergency
Contact Information will be used in this type of notification. An
acknowledgement of receipt by each of the intended recipients is required for
phone mode of contact; and is tracked by the notification software. Multiple
contact modes may, and should be utilized. HAN postings may be created, of
either a public or private (only viewable by targeted audience) audience type, for
this level of notification.
2. High Advisory – high priority does not warrant immediate action but recipients
should be aware and may wish to take preparatory action. The Recipient’s
Emergency Contact Information will be used in this type of alert notification. An
acknowledgement of receipt by each of the intended recipients is required for
phone mode of contact; and is tracked by the notification software. Multiple
contact modes may, and should be utilized .HAN postings may be created, of
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