October 4, 2006 Source: :
http://qnc.queensu.ca/story_loader.php?id=4523da6902693 Queen's expert to help Ontario
hospitals plan for
pandemic The Ontario
Hospital Association has appointed a Queen's University expert in infectious
diseases as head of a new project to help the province's hospitals prepare
for the next global pandemic - which he believes is just a matter of time. "The major challenge with a pandemic is that it keeps on coming," says Dick
Zoutman, Queen's professor of Pathology & Molecular Medicine and Community
Health & Epidemiology. "It doesn't last two days or even six weeks: it can
be from six to 18 months. So it's like having a huge pile-up on the 401
every day or every couple of days for six months or longer - and since up to
one-third of hospital staff may be off sick at any given time, that adds to
the challenge." The two-year project will develop a widely accessible web "portal" providing
information and education for hospital managers, clinical leaders and
front-line workers on pandemic planning. The web site will be aimed at all
hospitals, with special attention paid to the unique challenges often faced
by smaller hospitals in rural areas. Funding for this project comes from the Imperial Oil Foundation, which
directed funds to the Change Foundation through the Ontario Hospital
Association (OHA) to support infection control. "This is really the ultimate planning exercise," says Dr. Zoutman, who is
also Medical Director of Infection Control Services at Kingston General
Hospital (KGH). "Hospitals need to be aware of the potential impact of a
pandemic on their local healthcare delivery system and on their own
facility. Planning for a future pandemic of infectious disease means
grappling with a multitude of uncertainties for a hospital." Also on the team are Dr. Brian Schwartz, director of the Sunnybrook Osler
Centre for Prehospital Care in Toronto, Matt Melinyshyn, a healthcare
planner in southeastern Ontario, and Douglas Ford from the Queen's Infection
Control Research Unit. Issues to be addressed on the new web portal include: The history of pandemics and respiratory outbreaks and their impact on
hospitals
Clinical guidelines and basic infection control planning, e.g. use of
masks and gowns, where to put the sickest people, how to organize waiting
rooms, off-site facilities etc.
Communication with the public, hospital staff, government and other health
agencies
Human resources: training of regular and volunteer staff
Hospital planning around elective care and other emergency health needs in
a pandemic, as well as critical care and mortuary servicesThe project's first step will be a needs assessment, including a survey of
Ontario hospitals - both urban and rural - where pandemic planning is
already under way, with the best examples to be profiled on the web site.
Then on-line content will be developed, using technology that is accessible
to smaller hospitals. Prevention of infection in hospital staff is a key priority of the planning,
he continues, noting that the SARS epidemic took a heavy toll on this
sector. "Being prepared increases the safety and the confidence of
healthcare workers in coming to work under difficult circumstances," he
says.
"There will inevitably be an element of uncertainty, but with a well-planned
approach you can work through it and deal with the situation under your
terms." "Keeping our health care workers safe in the event of a pandemic is a top
priority for Ontario hospitals," said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the
Ontario Hospital Association. "This new web portal is a very valuable tool
that will offer hospitals the opportunity to share best practices and advice
as they prepare for a possible pandemic." At the end of the two-year project, the team will have a fully-developed web
portal ready for use, which will then be made available to all hospitals
through the Change Foundation and the OHA. To learn more about Research at Queen's ... Contacts: Nancy Dorrance, Queen's News & Media Services, 613.533.2869
Lorinda Peterson, Queen's News & Media Services, 613.533.3234 Attention broadcasters: Queen's has facilities to provide broadcast quality
audio and video feeds. For television interviews, we can provide a live,
real-time double ender from Kingston fibre optic cable. Please call for
details.
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