Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Erich K. Giebelhaus, MPP, Lewis Soloff, MD, Debra E. Berg, MD, and Christopher J. Godfrey, MA, PhD. Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, CN 22-A, New York, NY 10013, 212-788-4222, egiebelh@health.nyc.gov

Following the release of federal pandemic influenza planning documents in November 2005, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) surveyed levels of New York City (NYC) hospital-based critical care assets deemed essential for maintaining patient care during an influenza pandemic. These survey data and corresponding planning activities have helped to identify gaps and develop programs to facilitate the integration of federal assets into local pandemic or other emergency response efforts. DOHMH developed and administered a written survey to NYC hospitals receiving HRSA Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness funds (n=65) to determine: 1) the number of mechanical and “surge” ventilators in NYC hospitals by type and patient age group; 2) the baseline citywide use of ventilators during a peak usage period; and 3) hospitals' familiarity with portable ventilators used in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS); and 4) the level of reliance upon oxygen vendors. Data were incorporated into CDC's FluSurge 2.0 modeling software to estimate shortfalls in citywide ventilatory capacity under varied conditions. A cost model was developed for a portable ventilator model contained in the SNS over an eight-week period. This survey and corresponding activities provided an accurate assessment of hospital-based critical care capacity in NYC, identified gaps, and has served as a platform for targeted local and regional pandemic influenza planning efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• to describe steps that public health emergency preparedness planners can take to assess hospital-based critical care and ventilatory capacity in their jurisdiction specific to pandemic influenza planning.
• to discuss how emergency planners can coordinate their local, regional, and state pandemic influenza plans, including training, equipment, staff, and stockpile issues.
• to identify planning, training, and implementation issues related to the coordination of federal, state, and local hospital resources in public health emergencies, including pandemic influenza.

Keywords: Hospitals, Health Care Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation