H1N1 College and University Preparedness: An Interdisciplinary Campus-Wide Model Approach - Lessons Learned and Recommednations for the Future

The H1N1 outbreak of 2009 was an exercise in reality requiring no staging. Although all sectors of global society were awakened to reality and this real life exercise, educational institutions were significantly impacted given students and young children were among the most vulnerable groups identified. Schools at all levels needed to have relevant and immediately operable pandemic preparedness plans. Of the few surveys conducted, approximately 30% of all colleges of osteopathic medicine had comprehensive and practiced pandemic preparedness plans. Areas of most concern were communication, implementation of the student health, facilities operations, and food service. Most often colleges and universities had planned for academic back-ups for course delivery during a pandemic through the use of technology and we-based instruction. This paper will provide a template for an interdisciplinary campus-wide model approach for pandemic preparedness. The presentation will focus on the development of the model, lesson learned from the 2009 pandemic, and recommendations for the future. It is important to note that at the time of this writing, the plan is in full implementation and that the College of Osteopathic Medicine Pandemic Preparedness Task Force for Nova Southeastern University is meeting weekly to review actions and plan for next steps. Given the reality that this pandemic or another one may appear in the future, it is important that colleges/schools of osteopathic medicine have ongoing active pandemic preparedness plans to assure maximum preparedness and continuity of operations.