Health is a unity and harmony within the mind, body and spirit which is unique to each person, and is as defined by that person. The level of wellness or health is, in part, determined by the ability to deal with and defend against stress. Health is determined by physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, spiritual, and developmental stage variables.
Computer model maps efficient inoculation of hospital staff in pandemic outbreak
Influenza :: Computer model maps efficient inoculation of hospital staff in pandemic outbreak
Community preparedness for a bioterrorism attack or influenza outbreak has been the focus of much interest and effort in recent years.The study by the Division of Outcomes and Effectiveness Research of the Department of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College is published in the May issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and reports the results of computer simulations comparing several inoculation strategies.
"During an infectious outbreak, it's vitally important that hospitals remain fully functioning. This study suggests that assigning each staff member a time for inoculation is the most effective method to ensure that our caregivers stay healthy and patients continue to receive optimal care," says Dr. Nathaniel Hupert, senior author of the study. He is assistant attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and assistant professor of public health and medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Using discrete-event simulation -- a standard technique in operations research -- researchers compared two staff-management strategies with specific rules for dispensation and an unmanaged scenario in which staff would line-up for inoculation all at once or at the time of their choosing. In the scenarios, dispensing stations were located by existing hospital pharmacy outposts. Each station was run by three nurses and other support staff, administering medicine to 200 employees during an eight-hour shift, figuring an average dispensing time of five minutes each.
The method found to be the best, called the "ticket strategy" and inspired by the practice of customers taking numbers at a delicatessen, assigned staff members a specific time of day to receive prophylaxis based on a number such as the last digits of their identification badge. Assuming that 75 percent of staff followed the rules, the expected time in line would be only slightly more than two minutes. Waits were still much less than those of the unmanaged scenario, even if levels of compliance were as low as 25 percent
Another method, called the "flag strategy," allowed employees to get their inoculation at the time of their choosing -- but only when the line had fewer than a set number of people. With a queue maximum of five, this method resulted in a wait of more than four and a half minutes; with a queue maximum of three, it resulted in a wait of nearly three minutes. One major disadvantage was the many return trips necessitated when the line maximum was met.
Both staff-managed scenarios were a great improvement over an unmanaged 'free-for-all' scenario that in computer simulations resulted in wait-times as long as an hour -- time spent away from patient care. "Just having everyone line up at the start or end of the day would require a lot of nurses to give vaccinations, and nurses will be in short supply if or when an actual pandemic hits," explains Dr. Hupert.
Large hospitals, especially, face the challenge of inoculating tens of thousands of employees within one or two days amid stressful conditions and potentially extreme and unpredictable demands regarding patient-care, the paper said.
"While individual hospitals have initiated varying degrees of preparedness planning, there are currently no guidelines or best-practice examples for this aspect of hospital protection in recently released national health emergency plans. We hope that this study will represent the start of a coordinated effort to aid decision-making by public health officials and emergency management planners," says Dr. Wei Xiong, first author and instructor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College.
(Influenza :: Computer model maps efficient inoculation of hospital staff in pandemic outbreak published at SpiritIndia on Tuesday, May 22, 2007)
Influenza
Search more information on Influenza, Influenza booksRecently posted related articles on Influenza :
- H1N1 flu :: Pandemic swine flu - H1N1 Influenza
- Influenza :: Influenza - Insights into cell specificity of human vs. avian viruses
- Bird Flu :: Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 17
- Influenza :: Tamiflu survives sewage treatment
- Bird Flu :: Movement restrictions in place to prevent spread of avian influenza in Saskatchewan
- Bird Flu :: Avian influenza confirmed on Saskatchewan Farm
- Influenza :: Afluria influenza vaccine approved for upcoming influenza season
- Bird Flu :: Avian influenza detected in Saskatchewan
- Bird Flu :: New field-deployable biosensor detects avian influenza virus in minutes instead of days
- Influenza :: Nosespray vaccine using aloe vera has exciting potential in influenza
Most related articles:
- Influenza :: Computer model maps efficient inoculation of hospital staff in pandemic outbreak- Flu :: New web tool preparing GPs for flu outbreak - 13.8
- Influenza :: Pandemic influenza vaccine Focetria approved - 10.8
- Influenza :: GSK supports WHO efforts to strengthen global pandemic preparedness plans - 9.9
- Influenza :: Drug resistance in an influenza pandemic - 9.9
- Influenza :: Novartis commitment to pandemic preparedness - 9.8
- Bird Flu :: Bird flu outbreak notified in Imphal, eastern India - 9.6
- Flu :: Australia ready for avian influenza or bird flu - Tony Abbott - 9.6
- Influenza :: WHO - increase influenza vaccine supply - 9.2
- Influenza :: New Zealand Government tests pandemic action plan - 9.1
Influenza - recent related articles/news stories:
- Swine flu cases decreasing in UK- New learning guidance in case of Flu outbreak, US
- Is influenzinum right homeopathic remedy for H1N1 flu?
- Avian influenza increases Parkinson's disease risk
- New decisions for tackling H1N1 in India
»» Incontinence :: Sling Surgery is More Effective than Burch for Bladder Control in Women
«« Behavior :: Geographer designs computer model to predict crowd behavior
The information provided on SpiritIndia.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. Spirit India comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information.
Health, Business, Science, Sports, Entertainment, Technology
©2002-2009 SpiritIndia.com
Health, Business, Science, Sports, Entertainment, Technology
©2002-2009 SpiritIndia.com