What can you do now to prepare?

The prospect of preparing for a pandemic can seem overwhelming, but there are steps you can begin to take now.

• Train hospital staff and enforce adherence to infection control guidelines.
• Institute Respiratory Etiquette hospital wide; this will help train your staff and patient community now, while the need isn't quite as critical.
• Consider stockpiling essential consumable and durable medical supplies.
• Begin developing elements of the HHS preparedness checklist.
• Research what state resources may be available to you.

Stockpiling Medical Supplies

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that healthcare facilities consider stockpiling enough consumable and durable supplies for the duration of a pandemic wave, estimated to be between six and eight weeks. 10 Due to the global "just-in-time" inventory system that many hospitals employ, stockpiling these items now and increasing par levels is the best method of insuring that your facility will have the necessary resources in the event of a large scale patient surge.

Consumable Resources:

• Hand Hygiene Supplies (antimicrobial soap andalcohol-based, waterless hand hygiene products)
• Disposable N95 Respirators, Surgical and Procedure Masks
• Face Shields (disposable or reusable)
• Gowns
• Gloves
• Facial Tissue
• Central Line Kits
• Morgue Packs
• Surface Disinfectants

Durable Resources:

• Ventilators
• Respiratory Care Equipment
• Beds
• IV Pumps