Pandemic Influenza Triage in the Clinical Setting

Little is known about the ability of the clinical community to deal quickly and effectively with a potentially overwhelming surge of pandemic influenza patients. Key informant interviews were conducted using an IRB approved protocol to assess attitudes and expectations of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, intensive care clinicians, hospital nursing supervisors, hospital administrators and infection control personnel. Using the 76 emergency receiving hospitals in Los Angeles County, we randomly selected a hospital for each of these six health care worker categories. Each informant participated in a structured interview concerning supplies/resources, triage, quality of care and decision-making. At the conclusion of the interview, each informant was asked to provide the contact information for at least two others within their respective professional group. Interviews were transcribed and coded for key themes using qualitative analytical software. Results of these interviews will be presented with a discussion of the implications for health care providers to adhere to modified policies and standards of practice in a pandemic setting.