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Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

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Section 3: Healthcare <strong>Plan</strong>ning and Emergency Response<br />

• Identification of early signs and symptoms in order to recognize and thus prevent<br />

the spread of disease<br />

• Recognition of colleague stress and exhaustion<br />

ACFs should make arrangements for immunization of both residents and staff.<br />

All residents of ACFs should be given the opportunity to complete both Health Care<br />

Proxies and/or End-of-Life decisions documents (Living Wills). These documents<br />

should be clarified or confirmed as appropriate.<br />

The fundamental effect of a pandemic flu event on the Adult Care Facility bed capacity is<br />

uncertain at best. Many who survive the initial disease onslaught will require some<br />

degree of rehabilitation, and others will likely require long-term residential care, perhaps<br />

at a higher acuity level. The mortality level is undetermined, and the eventual outcome<br />

may not exceed the bed supply at the ACF level, but may impact higher care levels.<br />

As the level of clinical service and living arrangements vary widely across ACF<br />

providers, NYSDOH will provide guidance to ACFs which recognizes this variability.<br />

C. Home Health Agencies (Certified Home Health Agencies, Licensed Home Care<br />

Agencies, Long-Term Home Health Care Programs and Hospices)<br />

In a pandemic, the use of home health services as an alternative to hospitalization will be<br />

a key component in helping to control hospital surge. Therefore, it is important that<br />

home health agencies focus planning efforts on keeping patients out of the hospital and if<br />

possible, enhancing capacity so that hospital patients can be discharged more quickly.<br />

Home Health Agencies (HHA) during the Interpandemic and <strong>Pandemic</strong> Alert Periods<br />

should:<br />

• Review their emergency preparedness plans and incorporate any necessary<br />

revisions specific to the outbreak.<br />

• Review the procedures and the process for accessing the HPN.<br />

• Ensure that information contained on the Communication Directory is accurate<br />

and up-to-date.<br />

All home care agencies must maintain an up-to-date patient roster which utilizes the<br />

Patient Classification System in Appendix 3-A. The agency’s plan must include a<br />

strategy for meeting the care needs of patients in accordance with their classification, that<br />

is, reducing service to Level 2 and 3 patients while maintaining service to the Level 1<br />

patients.<br />

Patients should be classified on admission and periodically as their condition warrants.<br />

This information, as well as information on next of kin/responsible party, should be<br />

readily accessible for agency administrative staff.<br />

February 7, 2006 3-17

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